Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “inflame” come from?

Inflame comes from Middle English inflammen, from Old French enflammer, from Latin inflammō, ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European bʰel- meaning to shine or burn.

inflame (English): To set on fire; to kindle; to cause to burn,...

Definitions

  1. To set on fire; to kindle; to cause to burn,...

Ancestry of “inflame”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishenflaumen—
2Old Frenchenflammerto inflame
3LatininflammoI ignite, inflame; I excite
4LatinflammoI flame, blaze, burn; I inflame, set on fire; I...
5Latinflammaflame, fire
6Latinflāgrāre—
7Latinfrāgrō—
8Proto-Italicfrāgrāō—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰreh₂gro-—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰreh₂g-to smell

Words derived from “inflame”

  • inflaming
  • inflamer
  • inflameth
  • inflamest
  • reinflame
  • inflamingly
  • disinflame
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰreh₂g- →