aflame
adjective
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L19962 on Wikidata ↗Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /əˈfleɪm/
adj
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂en-der. Proto-Germanic *an Proto-West Germanic *ana Old English on Middle English a- Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-der. Proto-Italic *flagmā Latin flamma Old French flame Anglo-Norman flaumebor. Middle English flawme Middle English a-flame English aflame The adverb is derived from Late Middle English a-flame, from a- (prefix meaning ‘on’ forming adverbial phrases; or denoting being engaged in or occupied by an activity) + flame, flaume, flawme (“flame”). Flame, flawme is derived from Anglo-Norman flaumbe, flaume, and Old French flame, flambe, from Latin flamma, probably ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to blaze, burn (?); bright flame, fire (?)”). By surface analysis, a- (prefix meaning ‘at; in; on’ denoting a condition, manner, or state) + flame (noun). The adjective is derived from the adverb, which is attested earlier.
- With flames coming from it; burning, flaming, in flames, on fire.
“Workmen employed in the alcohol plant rushed out, their clothing aflames^([sic – meaning aflame]) and many groping their way, blinded by the fire.”
- Having the colour of a flame.
“In autumn the trees are aflame with colour.”
“His rather large pointed ears were aflame as they were when he was pleasurably excited.”
- In a state of great activity or emotion (anger, excitement, etc.).
“She said nothing and simply stared at him, eyes aflame.”
“[M]en and women all a-flame / For action, all alive, and forced to prove / Their life by living out heart, brain, and nerve, […]”
adv
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂en-der. Proto-Germanic *an Proto-West Germanic *ana Old English on Middle English a- Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-der. Proto-Italic *flagmā Latin flamma Old French flame Anglo-Norman flaumebor. Middle English flawme Middle English a-flame English aflame The adverb is derived from Late Middle English a-flame, from a- (prefix meaning ‘on’ forming adverbial phrases; or denoting being engaged in or occupied by an activity) + flame, flaume, flawme (“flame”). Flame, flawme is derived from Anglo-Norman flaumbe, flaume, and Old French flame, flambe, from Latin flamma, probably ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to blaze, burn (?); bright flame, fire (?)”). By surface analysis, a- (prefix meaning ‘at; in; on’ denoting a condition, manner, or state) + flame (noun). The adjective is derived from the adverb, which is attested earlier.
- Often preceded by set: in or into flames; so as to be burned by fire.
“[T]hat blessed martyr, St. Thomas of Canterbury [Thomas Becket], sometime your predecessor, did withstand the unlawful requests of the prince of his time, but would still not only yield and bear with things not to be borne withal, but also set a-flame the fire already kindled— […]”
“Thou wert the baite that Paris gave the dame, / Who in reward, ſet ſtately Troy aflame.”
- Often preceded by set.
“The sky was soft and bright, but not so gorgeous as Kenyon had seen it, a thousand times, in America; for there the western sky is wont to be set aflame with breadths and depths of color, with which poets seek in vain to dye their verses, and which painters never dare to copy.”
“The low sun had set aflame the numerous windows of a large building which turned slowly, demonstrating one huge chimney, then another, as the train clattered by.”
- Often preceded by set.
“He who sent (If He sent) all those hearts aflame?”
verb
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ud-s-? Proto-Indo-European *h₂u-s-? Proto-Germanic *uz- Proto-West Germanic *uʀ- Old English ar- Old English ā- Middle English a- English a- Old French flamberbor. Middle English flawmen English flame English aflame From a- (intensifying prefix) + flame (verb). Flame is derived from Middle English flamen, flaumben, flaumen, flawmen (“to emit flames, blaze; to shine like fire, gleam; to arouse (an emotion), kindle; to give off (an odour); of an odour: to issue; (cooking) to baste (meat) with grease; to glaze (pastry)”), from Anglo-Norman flaumber, flaumer, and Old French flamber, flammer (“to blaze, burn”) (modern French flamber), from flambe, flamme (“flame”, noun) + -er (variant of -ier (suffix forming verbs)). Flamme is derived from Latin flamma (“fire; flame”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-, bʰl̥g- (“to blaze, burn; to glow, shine; to be bright or brightly coloured (?); bright flame, fire (?)”).
- Synonym of inflame (“to set (something) on fire; (figurative) to intensify or kindle (a feeling, such as appetite or passion); to intensify or kindle a feeling in (someone)”).
“So that we might serve God, / confirmed from above, / she [the Holy Spirit] tests us with fire / and aflames us with love.”
“Through nights while great darkness, / I aflamed killed beasts' heads, […]”
- Chiefly in the present participle: to be in flames or on fire; to blaze, to flare up.
“[A]s regards Prince Yusuf, when Ibn Ibrahim left him, he felt love-lowe aflaming in his heart, […]”
“She "believeth all things" and always gives him the benefit of the doubt. She "hopeth all things" will work out well, and keepeth that hope aflameth in her heart. (Yes, I'm having fun with this.)”