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American Dictionary of the English Language

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Inflame


INFLA'ME, verb transitive [Latin inflammo; in and flamma, flame.]

1. To set on fire; to kindle; to cause to burn; in a literal sense. But more generally,

2. To excite or increase, as passion or appetite; to enkindle into violent action; as, to inflame love, lust or thirst; to inflame desire or anger.

3. To exaggerate; to aggravate in description.

A friend exaggerates a man's virtues, an enemy inflames his crimes. [Unusual.]

4. To heat; to excite excessive action in the blood; as to inflame the blood or body; to inflame with wine.

5. To provoke; to irritate; to anger.

6. To increase; to exasperate; as, to inflame the enmity of parties, or the spirit of sedition.

7. To increase; to augment; as, to inflame a presumption.

INFLA'ME, verb intransitive To grow hot, angry and painful.