Etymologically
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flammo

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 19:01. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈfɫam.moː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈflam.mo][1]

Forms

flammō (present infinitive flammāre, perfect active flammāvī, supine flammātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from flamma “flame” with the verb suffix -ō.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Cicero, of setting something ablaze.[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to set ablaze, make glow, as in Cicero, and figuratively to inflame a person with love, fury or ardour, as in Virgil.[2] Intransitively, mostly in the present participle flammāns, it meant to flame, blaze, and Lewis & Short call this use poetic.[2][5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to burn with passion or eagerness.[6] It survives in Italian fiammare.[1]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[2][4]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of inflaming emotion.[2][4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To set ablaze, make glow.[2]
  2. To inflame, excite.[2]
  3. (intransitive) To flame, blaze.[5]

Word family

  • conflammo
  • dēflammō
  • efflammans
  • flammatrix
  • flammātus
  • flammescō
  • flammidus
  • īnflammō
  • sufflammo
  • flammābundus
  • flammāns

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson