Etymologically
Log in

incendo

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 12:32. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɪŋˈkɛn.doː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [in̠ʲˈt͡ʃɛn.do][1]

Forms

incendō (present infinitive incendere, perfect active incendī, supine incēnsum); third conjugation[1] Festus records an old perfect subjunctive incēnsit for incenderit.[2][3]

Etymology

It is from in- (“in”) and a verb *cand-, as in candeō “to glow, be white-hot” and candidus.[2][1][3] Compare accendō and succendō, with the same element.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citations are from Plautus, of setting buildings on fire.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to set on fire, kindle, burn, especially buildings meant for destruction, as Cicero's ships, and to burn incense and perfumes.[2][5] It also meant to scorch, as of fever, and to light up, cause to glow.[2] Figuratively it meant to fire with strong feeling, excite, as in Plautus, to stir up a passion or conflict, as in Terence, and to intensify or aggravate.[2] Döderlein says accendō sets fire from outside at one point, incendō from within, as to houses, and inflammō makes something burst into flame.[6]

It survives in Spanish encender and Italian incendere.[1] English incense comes in the late 13th century from its participle as Late Latin incēnsum “that which is burnt”, and English incendiary about 1400 from incendiārius.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of burning buildings and of exciting feelings.[2][4]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of stirring up passion.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of burning ships.[5][4]
  • late 13th century – English incense is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To set on fire, kindle, burn.[2]
  2. To scorch, make fiery hot.[2]
  3. To light up, make glow.[2]
  4. To inflame, excite (a person).[2]
  5. To stir up (a passion, conflict).[2]
  6. To intensify; to aggravate.[2]

Word family

  • incendefacio
  • incendium
  • incēnsiō
  • incensor
  • superincendō
  • incēnsum
  • incēnsus

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com