fire English · revision 3646

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725 (Old English fȳr)|origins=ine-pro *paəwr̥}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /faɪə/, US /ˈfaɪ.ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|fir]], [[inh|ang|fȳr]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from [[gem-pro|*fūr-]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) from [[ine-pro|*paəwr̥|t=fire]].^(AHD 2000)^(Etymonline) The American Heritage Dictionary explains that Indo-European had a pair of words for fire, one inanimate, for fire as a substance, which English inherited, and one animate and personified, *egni-, the source of Latin [[m|la|ignis]] and of English [[ignite]].^(AHD 2000)^(Etymonline) Its relatives include [[de|Feuer]] and [[nl|vuur]], and outside Germanic [[grc|πῦρ|tr=pûr|t=fire]], the source of [[pyre]] and [[pyro-]], and Hittite [[m|hit|paḫḫur]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Fire, a fire: Old English ''fȳr'', about 725.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The spelling ''fir'' is found in 1122, and ''fier'' about 1250, a spelling kept in ''fiery''.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Fire'' first appears about 1200, in the ''Ormulum'', but did not fully replace ''fier'' until about 1600.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) “A burnt child dreads the fire” is in the ''Proverbs of Hendyng'' (about 1250).^(Etymonline) Burning passion has been ''fire'' since the mid-14th century,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) and the shooting of guns since the 1580s.^(Etymonline) The verb meant “to rouse, inflame” about 1200 and “to set on fire” in the late 14th century, in Gower;^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the Old English verb ''fȳrian'', “to supply with fire”, did not survive.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) “To shoot a gun” is from the 1520s, “to bake (pottery)” from the 1660s, and ''fire away'' from 1775.^(Etymonline) ''Fire'' in the sense “to dismiss from a job” is American, from 1877, probably a play on the two senses of ''discharge''.^(Etymonline) ''Fire escape'' is from 1788 and ''fire extinguisher'' from 1826.^(Etymonline) ''Play with fire'' is from 1861, and the American ''where's the fire?'' from 1917.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English ''fȳr''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – the spelling ''fire''; verb, to inflame.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-14th century – passion.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – verb, to set on fire.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1520s – to shoot a gun.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1580s – gunfire.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1660s – to bake pottery.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1788 – ''fire escape''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1877 – to dismiss from a job.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The process of burning, giving out heat, light and flame; [[combustion]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Burning fuel, as in a fireplace or stove.^(AHD)

+ # A destructive burning, as of a building.^(AHD)^(Hoad 1986)

+ # Burning feeling; [[ardour]] or enthusiasm.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Brilliance, as of a cut gem.^(AHD)

+ # The shooting of firearms: ''under fire''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To set on fire; to [[ignite]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To bake in a [[kiln]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To stir up; to inspire.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To shoot a gun or launch a missile; to throw.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To dismiss from a job.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fireable]]

+ * [[firer]]

+ * [[fireless]]

+ * [[afire]]

+ * [[backfire]]

+ * [[balefire]]

+ * [[bonfire]]

+ * [[brush-fire]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fiery]]

+ * [[pyre]]

+ * [[pyro-]]

+ * [[ignite]]

+ * [[firework]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}