inflame (English)
Where does "inflame" come from?
The word "inflame" traces its roots back to the Latin verb "inflammō," formed by combining "in-" with "flamma," meaning "flame." This term passed into English via Old French as "enflammer" before evolving into the Middle English "inflammen." Over time, the word expanded from its literal meaning of setting something on fire to represent the metaphorical kindling of passion, anger, or even biological irritation.
Full etymology tree
- inflame (English), 'To set on fire; to kindle; to cause to burn, flame, or glow.'
- inherited enflamen (Middle English)
- borrowed enflammer (Old French)
- inherited inflammō (Latin), 'to ignite, inflame'
- prefix in (Latin), 'in, at, on, upon, from (space)'
- inherited *en (Proto-Italic), 'in'
- inherited *h₁en (Proto-Indo-European)
- inherited *en (Proto-Italic), 'in'
- derived flamma (Latin), 'flame, fire'
- inherited *flagmā (Proto-Italic), 'flame'
- inherited *bʰl̥-g-mh₂ (Proto-Indo-European)
- derived *bʰel- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to sound; to speak, roar, bark'
- inherited *bʰl̥-g-mh₂ (Proto-Indo-European)
- inherited *flagmā (Proto-Italic), 'flame'
- prefix in (Latin), 'in, at, on, upon, from (space)'
- inherited inflammō (Latin), 'to ignite, inflame'
- borrowed enflammer (Old French)
- inherited enflamen (Middle English)
Direct ancestors
Updated June 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris