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Incendiary

//ɪnˈsɛn.di.ɛɹ.i// adj, noun

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Capable of, or used for, or actually causing fire.

    "Driving 2-6-2 locomotive No. 4771 Green Arrow, Blunt suddenly noticed that the tunnel mouth was silhouetted in a dazzling white glare and that incendiary bombs were showering down in their hundreds, he slammed on all his brakes and brought his train to a stop just inside the tunnel."

  2. 2
    Of a damaging fire, intentionally caused rather than accidental.

    "The Crown must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the fire was incendiary in origin; that is, it was not accidental and that it was either intentionally or recklessly set by the accused."

  3. 3
    Intentionally stirring up strife, riot, rebellion. figuratively

    "Earlier that year Italian Jews had come under serious attack when an incendiary publication, Gli ebrei in Italia (The Jews in Italy), had flooded the bookshops. The author, Paolo Orano, was a Fascist publicist whose book helped to harden Italian public sensibility against the Jews and pave the way for their eventual persecution."

  4. 4
    Inflammatory, emotionally charged. figuratively

    "Politics is an incendiary topic; it tends to cause fights to break out."

Adjective
  1. 1
    capable of catching fire spontaneously or causing fires or burning readily wordnet
  2. 2
    arousing to action or rebellion wordnet
  3. 3
    involving deliberate burning of property wordnet
Noun
  1. 1
    Something capable of causing fire, particularly a weapon.

    "The military used incendiaries to destroy the building. Fortunately, the fire didn't spread."

  2. 2
    a bomb that is designed to start fires; is most effective against flammable targets (such as fuel) wordnet
  3. 3
    One who maliciously sets fires.
  4. 4
    a criminal who illegally sets fire to property wordnet
  5. 5
    One who excites or inflames factions into quarrels. figuratively

    "March 7, 1692, Richard Bentley, The Folly of Atheism Several cities […] drove them out as incendiaries."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English incendiarie, from Old French incendiaire, from Latin incendiārius (“setting alight”), from incendium (“destructive fire”), from incendō (“I set on fire, kindle”), from in- (“into, in, on, upon”) + candeō (“I am hot”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English incendiarie, from Old French incendiaire, from Latin incendiārius (“setting alight”), from incendium (“destructive fire”), from incendō (“I set on fire, kindle”), from in- (“into, in, on, upon”) + candeō (“I am hot”).

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