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aflame

adv
/əˈfleɪm/US

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ud-s-? Proto-Indo-European *h₂u-s-? Proto-Germanic *uz- Proto-West Germanic *uʀ- Old English ar- Old English ā- Middle English a- English a- Old French flamberbor. Middle English flawmen English flame English aflame From a- (intensifying prefix) + flame (verb). Flame is derived from Middle English flamen, flaumben, flaumen, flawmen (“to emit flames, blaze; to shine like fire, gleam; to arouse (an emotion), kindle; to give off (an odour); of an odour: to issue; (cooking) to baste (meat) with grease; to glaze (pastry)”), from Anglo-Norman flaumber, flaumer, and Old French flamber, flammer (“to blaze, burn”) (modern French flamber), from flambe, flamme (“flame”, noun) + -er (variant of -ier (suffix forming verbs)). Flamme is derived from Latin flamma (“fire; flame”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-, bʰl̥g- (“to blaze, burn; to glow, shine; to be bright or brightly coloured (?); bright flame, fire (?)”).

  1. derived from *bʰel-✻ — “to blaze, burn (?); bright flame, fire (?)”
  2. derived from flamma
  3. derived from flame
  4. derived from flaumbe
  5. inherited from a-flame

Definitions

  1. Often preceded by set

    Often preceded by set: in or into flames; so as to be burned by fire.

    • Thou wert the baite that Paris gave the dame, / Who in reward, ſet ſtately Troy aflame.

  2. Often preceded by set.

    • The low sun had set aflame the numerous windows of a large building which turned slowly, demonstrating one huge chimney, then another, as the train clattered by.

  3. With flames coming from it

    With flames coming from it; burning, flaming, in flames, on fire.

    • Workmen employed in the alcohol plant rushed out, their clothing aflames^([sic – meaning aflame]) and many groping their way, blinded by the fire.
  4. ›+ 4 more definitions

    1. Having the colour of a flame.

      • In autumn the trees are aflame with colour.
      • His rather large pointed ears were aflame as they were when he was pleasurably excited.
      • As the train rumbled slowly over the Forth Bridge, the western sky was aflame with a particularly gorgeous sunset, and lights were twinkling from the small craft riding at anchor on the calm waters of the firth.

    2. In a state of great activity or emotion (anger, excitement, etc.).

      • She said nothing and simply stared at him, eyes aflame.
      • [M]en and women all a-flame / For action, all alive, and forced to prove / Their life by living out heart, brain, and nerve, […]
      • As for myself, I am all aflame with curiosity, and I devote my whole energies to the business of discovery from this moment.

    3. Synonym of inflame (“to set (something) on fire

      Synonym of inflame (“to set (something) on fire; (figurative) to intensify or kindle (a feeling, such as appetite or passion); to intensify or kindle a feeling in (someone)”).

      • So that we might serve God, / confirmed from above, / she [the Holy Spirit] tests us with fire / and aflames us with love.
      • Through nights while great darkness, / I aflamed killed beasts' heads, […]
      • I had intended, […] to refresh my mind, wearied with long study, when a burning desire to read and learn aflamed me afresh …

    4. Chiefly in the present participle

      Chiefly in the present participle: to be in flames or on fire; to blaze, to flare up.

      • [A]s regards Prince Yusuf, when Ibn Ibrahim left him, he felt love-lowe aflaming in his heart, […]
      • She "believeth all things" and always gives him the benefit of the doubt. She "hopeth all things" will work out well, and keepeth that hope aflameth in her heart. (Yes, I'm having fun with this.)
      • concrete jungle fires / that mirror this unruly blaze / aflamed / in my heart

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for aflame. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA