incendiary English · revision 394

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪnˈsɛn.dɪ.əɹ.i/, /ɪnˈsɛn.djəɹ.i/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|incendiārius|t=causing a fire; an incendiary]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) from ''incendium'' “fire, conflagration”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) from ''incendere'' “to set on fire”, from ''in-'' and ''candere'' “to shine, glow”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) It is related to [[incense]], [[candle]] and [[incandescent]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a noun, a person who maliciously sets fires (1402 in Barnhart; c. 1400 in Etymonline; 1606 in the OED);^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) as an adjective, capable of being used to set fires (mid-15th century).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 17th century the adjective was used of the crime of arson (1611)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and figuratively of speech or writing that inflames the passions, especially political ones (1614).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The noun likewise came to mean a person who stirs up strife or sedition, an agitator (1631).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Military use, of bombs and shells designed to set fire to the enemy's buildings and ships, dates from 1871,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and the noun was used for an incendiary bomb from 1940.^(OED 1989) Merriam-Webster also records a colloquial sense, “extremely hot”, of peppers.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1402 – noun, an arsonist.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * mid-15th century – adjective, used to set fires.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1611 – relating to arson.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1614 – inflaming the passions.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1631 – noun, an agitator.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1871 – of weapons, designed to start fires.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Causing or capable of causing fire; of a weapon, containing chemicals that burn with intense heat.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of or involving [[arson]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Tending to inflame or stir up strife; [[inflammatory]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who deliberately sets fire to property; an [[arsonist]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An incendiary device, such as a bomb.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A person who stirs up factions, quarrels or [[sedition]]; an [[agitator]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[incendiarism]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[incense]]

+ * [[candle]]

+ * [[candid]]

+ * [[incandescent]]

+ * [[candor]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}