Word Study
inflame
CIDE DICTIONARY
inflame, v. t. [OE. enflamen, OF. enflamer, F. enflammer, L. inflammare, inflammatum; pref. in- in + flammare to flame, fr. flamma flame. See Flame.].
- To set on fire; to kindle; to cause to burn, flame, or glow. [1913 Webster]"We should have made retreat
By light of the inflamed fleet." [1913 Webster] - Fig.: To kindle or intensify, as passion or appetite; to excite to an excessive or unnatural action or heat; as, to inflame desire. [1913 Webster]"Though more, it seems,
Inflamed with lust than rage." [1913 Webster]"But, O inflame and fire our hearts." [1913 Webster] - To provoke to anger or rage; to exasperate; to irritate; to incense; to enrage. [1913 Webster]"It will inflame you; it will make you mad." [1913 Webster]
- To put in a state of inflammation; to produce morbid heat, congestion, or swelling, of; as, to inflame the eyes by overwork. [1913 Webster]
- To exaggerate; to enlarge upon. [1913 Webster]"A friend exaggerates a man's virtues, an enemy inflames his crimes."
Syn. -- To provoke; fire; kindle; irritate; exasperate; incense; enrage; anger; excite; arouse.
inflame, v. i.
To grow morbidly hot, congested, or painful; to become angry or incensed. Wiseman. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
inflame, v.
1 tr. & intr. (often foll. by with, by) provoke or become provoked to strong feeling, esp. anger.
2 Med. a intr. become hot, reddened, and sore. b tr. cause inflammation or fever in (a body etc.); make hot.
3 tr. aggravate.
4 intr. & tr. catch or set on fire.
5 tr. light up with or as if with flames.
1 tr. & intr. (often foll. by with, by) provoke or become provoked to strong feeling, esp. anger.
2 Med. a intr. become hot, reddened, and sore. b tr. cause inflammation or fever in (a body etc.); make hot.
3 tr. aggravate.
4 intr. & tr. catch or set on fire.
5 tr. light up with or as if with flames.
Derivative
inflamer n.
Etymology
ME f. OF enflammer f. L inflammare (as IN-(2), flamma flame)
THESAURUS
inflame
afflict, aggravate, agitate, agonize, ail, anger, animate, annoy, arouse, augment, awake, awaken, bank, bite, blow the coals, blow up, bristle, burn, burn up, call forth, call up, carmine, chafe, conflagrate, convulse, crimson, crucify, cut, deepen, distress, drive, dynamize, electrify, embitter, energize, enkindle, enliven, enrage, exacerbate, exasperate, excite, excruciate, exhilarate, fan, fan the fire, fan the flame, feed, feed the fire, ferment, fester, fire, fire up, flame, foment, frenzy, fret, fuel, gall, galvanize, get, give pain, gnaw, goad, grate, grind, gripe, harrow, hearten, heat, heat up, heighten, henna, huff, hurt, ignite, impassion, incarnadine, incense, incite, increase, inflict pain, infuriate, instigate, intensify, invigorate, irritate, jazz up, key up, kill by inches, kindle, lacerate, lash up, lather up, light, light the fuse, light up, lipstick, liven, madden, madder, martyr, martyrize, miff, miniate, motivate, move, nettle, nip, overexcite, pain, peeve, pep up, perk up, pierce, pinch, pique, prick, prod, prolong the agony, provoke, put out, put to torture, put up to, quicken, rack, rally, rankle, rasp, red-ink, redden, rekindle, relight, relume, rile, roil, rouge, rouse, rub, rubify, rubric, ruddle, ruffle, rust, set astir, set fire to, set on, set on fire, set up, sic on, snap up, spur on, stab, steam up, stimulate, sting, stir, stir the blood, stir the embers, stir the feelings, stir the fire, stir up, stoke, stoke the fire, strike a light, summon up, tickle, torch, torment, torture, touch off, turn on, tweak, twist, urge, vermilion, vex, vile, vitalize, wake, wake up, waken, warm, warm the blood, whet, whip up, work into, work up, wound, wring, zip upROGET THESAURUS
inflame
Excitation
VB excite, affect, touch, move, impress, strike, interest, animate, inspire, impassion, smite, infect, stir the blood, fire the blood, warm the blood, set astir, wake, awake, awaken, call forth, evoke, provoke, raise up, summon up, call up, wake up, blow up, get up, light up, raise, get up the steam, rouse, arouse, stir, fire, kindle, enkindle, apply the torch, set on fire, inflame, stimulate, exsuscitate, inspirit, spirit up, stir up, work up, pique, infuse life into, give new life to, bring new blood, introduce new blood, quicken, sharpen, whet, work upon, hurry on, give a fillip, put on one's mettle, fan the fire, fan the flame, blow the coals, stir the embers, fan into a flame, foster, heat, warm, foment, raise to a fever heat, keep up, keep the pot boiling, revive, rekindle, rake up, rip up, stir the feelings, play on the feelings, come home to the feelings, touch a string, touch a chord, touch the soul, touch the heart, go to one's heart, penetrate, pierce, go through one, touch to the quick, possess the soul, pervade the soul, penetrate the soul, imbrue the soul, absorb the soul, affect the soul, disturb the soul, absorb, rivet the attention, sink into the mind, sink into the heart, prey on the mind, distract, intoxicate, overwhelm, overpower, bouleverser, upset, turn one's head, fascinate, enrapture, agitate, perturb, ruffle, fluster, shake, disturb, startle, shock, stagger, give one a shock, give one a turn, strike all of a heap, stun, astound, electrify, galvanize, petrify, irritate, sting, cut to the heart, cut to the quick, try one's temper, fool to the top of one's bent, pique, infuriate, madden, make one's blood boil, lash into fury, be excited, flush up, flare up, catch the infection, thrill, mantle, work oneself up, seethe, boil, simmer, foam, fume, flame, rage, rave, run mad.Physical Energy
VB give energy, energize, stimulate, kindle, excite, exert, sharpen, intensify, inflame, wind up, strike home, into home, hard home, make an impression.Violence
VB be violent, run high, ferment, effervesce, romp, rampage, go on a rampage, run wild, run amuck, run riot, break the peace, rush, tear, rush headlong, rush foremost, raise a storm, make a riot, rough house, riot, storm, wreak, bear down, ride roughshod, out Herod, Herod, spread like wildfire (person), explode, make a row, kick up a row, boil, boil over, fume, foam, come on like a lion, bluster, rage, roar, fly off the handle, go bananas, go ape, blow one's top, blow one's cool, flip one's lid, hit the ceiling, hit the roof, fly into a rage (anger), break out, fly out, burst out, bounce, explode, go off, displode, fly, detonate, thunder, blow up, crump, flash, flare, burst, shock, strain, break open, force open, prize open, render violent, sharpen, stir up, quicken, excite, incite, annoy, urge, lash, stimulate, turn on, irritate, inflame, kindle, suscitate, foment, accelerate, aggravate, exasperate, exacerbate, convulse, infuriate, madden, lash into fury, fan the flame, add fuel to the flame, pour oil on the fire, oleum addere camino, explode, let fly, fly off, discharge, detonate, set off, detonize, fulminate.Resentment
VB resent, take amiss, take ill, take to heart, take offense, take umbrage, take huff, take exception, take in ill part, take in bad part, take in dudgeon, ne pas entendre raillerie, breathe revenge, cut up rough, fly into a rage, fall into a rage, get into a rage, fly into a passion, bridle up, bristle up, froth up, fire up, flare up, open the vials of one's wrath, pour out the vials of one's wrath, pout, knit the brow, frown, scowl, lower, snarl, growl, gnarl, gnash, snap, redden, color, look black, look black as thunder, look daggers, bite one's thumb, show one's teeth, grind one's teeth, champ the bit, champ at the bit, chafe, mantle, fume, kindle, fly out, take fire, boil, boil over, boil with indignation, boil with rage, rage, storm, foam, vent one's rage, vent one's spleen, lose one's temper, stand on one's hind legs, stamp the foot, stamp with rage, quiver with rage, swell with rage, foam with rage, burst with anger, raise Cain, have a fling at, bear malice, cause anger, raise anger, affront, offend, give offense, give umbrage, anger, hurt the feelings, insult, discompose, fret, ruffle, nettle, huff, pique, excite, irritate, stir the blood, stir up bile, sting, sting to the quick, rile, provoke, chafe, wound, incense, inflame, enrage, aggravate, add fuel to the flame, fan into a flame, widen the breach, envenom, embitter, exasperate, infuriate, kindle wrath, stick in one's gizzard, rankle, hit on the raw, rub on the raw, sting on the raw, strike on the raw, put out of countenance, put out of humor, put one's monkey up, put one's back up, raise one's gorge, raise one's dander, raise one's choler, work up into a passion, make one's blood boil, make the ears tingle, throw, into a ferment, madden, drive one mad, lash into fury, lash into madness, fool to the top of one's bent, set by the ears, bring a hornet's nest about one's ears.Calefaction
VB heat, warm, chafe, stive, foment, make hot, sun oneself, sunbathe, go up in flames, burn to the ground (flame), fire, set fire to, set on fire, kindle, enkindle, light, ignite, strike a light, apply the match to, apply the torch to, rekindle, relume, fan the flame, add fuel to the flame, poke the fire, stir the fire, blow the fire, make a bonfire of, melt, thaw, fuse, liquefy, burn, inflame, roast, toast, fry, grill, singe, parch, bake, torrefy, scorch, brand, cauterize, sear, burn in, corrode, char, calcine, incinerate, smelt, scorify, reduce to ashes, burn to a cinder, commit to the flames, consign to the flames, boil, digest, stew, cook, seethe, scald, parboil, simmer, do to rags, take fire, catch fire, blaze.For further exploring for "inflame" in Webster Dictionary Online