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.
Meanings
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. 1930 February 19, “Ten workmen killed in eastern naphtha refinery explosion”, in Louis C[hase] Hiner, editor, Rushville Republican, volume 26, number 299, Rushville, Ind.: The Republican Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 6, column 6:
(figuratively) 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. 1938–1939 (date written; published 1941), Vladimir Nabokov, chapter 8, in The Real Life of Sebastian Knight (Penguin Book; 2199), Harmondsworth, Middlesex [London]: Penguin Books, published 1964, →ISBN, page 61:
Through the slats of the jalousies Bond looked across the little garden, aflame with hibiscus, bougainvillea and roses, which ended in the tiny crescent of white sand half obscured by the trunks of the palms. 1954, Ian Fleming, “Beau Desert”, in Live and Let Die, London: Pan Books, published 1957, page 194:
As the train rumbled slowly over the Forth Bridge, the western sky was aflame with a particularly gorgeous sunset, and lights were twinkling from the small craft riding at anchor on the calm waters of the firth. 1950 January, Arthur F. Beckenham, “With British Railways to the Far North”, in The Railway Magazine, London: Tothill Press, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 8:
(figuratively) In a state of great activity or emotion (anger, excitement, etc.).
[T]he words lurking afar were not empty shells as they seemed, but were only waiting for the thought they already concealed to set them aflame and in motion. 1938–1939 (date written; published 1941), Vladimir Nabokov, chapter 9, in The Real Life of Sebastian Knight (Penguin Book; 2199), Harmondsworth, Middlesex [London]: Penguin Books, published 1964, →ISBN, page 70:
She said nothing and simply stared at him, eyes aflame.
"No, it was n't foolish!" cried Helen, her eyes aflame. "You 've pushed back the boundaries; I think it splendid of you." 1908–1910 (date written; published 1910 October 18), E[dward] M[organ] Forster, “The Mystery Explained”, in Howards End, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.; London: G[eorge] P[almer] Putnam’s Sons […], published 1910, →OCLC, page 147:
My heart's aflame, my body's strained, but, God, I like it 2006 February 13, Tunde Adebimpe, David Sitek, Kyp Malone, Jaleel Bunton, Gerard Smith, “Wolf Like Me”, in Return to Cookie Mountain, performed by TV on the Radio, Santa Monica, Calif.: Interscope Records, →OCLC:
[M]en and women all a-flame / For action, all alive, and forced to prove / Their life by living out heart, brain, and nerve, […] 1856, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “Fifth Book”, in Aurora Leigh, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1857, →OCLC, page 192:
As for myself, I am all aflame with curiosity, and I devote my whole energies to the business of discovery from this moment. 1859 November 26 – 1860 August 25, [William] Wilkie Collins, “The Narrative of Narrative of Walter Hartright, of Clement’s Inn, London”, in The Woman in White. […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], published 1860, →OCLC, part I, section IV, page 17, column 1:
eo flamanta (with flames coming from it) · fi liekkien värinen (having the colour of a flame) · fi liekehtivä (with flames coming from it) · hi प्रज्वलित (with flames coming from it) · bg в пламъци (with flames coming from it) · es llameante (with flames coming from it) · mi mura (with flames coming from it) · sv brinnande (with flames coming from it) · bg пламнал (with flames coming from it) · es en llamas (with flames coming from it) · sv i brand (with flames coming from it) · tr alev alev (with flames coming from it) · ru в огне́ (with flames coming from it) · ka ალმოდებული (with flames coming from it) · fi palava (in a state of great activity or emotion) · ka ცეცხლწაკიდებული (with flames coming from it) · nl in brand (with flames coming from it) · sv i lågor (with flames coming from it)
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.
Meanings
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— […] 1555 September 16 (date written; Gregorian calendar), James Anthony Froude, quoting James Brooks, Bishop of Gloucester, “The Martyrs”, in History of England from the Fall of Wolsey to the Death of Elizabeth, volume VI, London: John W[illiam] Parker, and Son, […], →OCLC, page 374:
Thou wert the baite that Paris gave the dame, / Who in reward, ſet ſtately Troy aflame. 1576, George Whetstone, “The Castle of Delight: […]”, in The Rocke of Regard, […], London: […] [H. Middleton] for Robert Waley, →OCLC; republished in J[ohn] P[ayne] Collier, editor, The Rocke of Regard, […] (Illustrations of Early English Poetry; vol. 2, no. 2), London: Privately printed, [1867?], →OCLC, page 76:
(figuratively) Often preceded by set. ▸ In or into a colour like that of a flame.
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. 1938–1939 (date written; published 1941), Vladimir Nabokov, chapter 13, in The Real Life of Sebastian Knight (Penguin Book; 2199), Harmondsworth, Middlesex [London]: Penguin Books, published 1964, →ISBN, page 104:
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. 1860, Nathaniel Hawthorne, “On the Battlements”, in The Marble Faun: Or, The Romance of Monte Beni. […], volume II, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, →OCLC, page 50:
(figuratively) Often preceded by set. ▸ In or into a state of great activity or emotion (anger, excitement, etc.).
He who sent (If He sent) all those hearts aflame? 1918, Margaret Widdemer, The Old Road to Paradise, Once When We Bought Valentines:
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
more aflame
Degree=Cmp
lexicographic
most aflame
Degree=Sup
lexicographic
Translations (6)
ru в огне (in or into flames) · fi liekeissä (in or into flames) · fi liekeissä (in or into a state of great activity or emotion) · fi liekkeihin (in or into a state of great activity or emotion) · fi liekkien värinen (in or into a colour like that of flame) · fi liekkeihin (in or into flames)
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-
Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-der.
Proto-Italic *flagmā
Latin flammula
Old French flamble
Old French flambe
Proto-Italic *-āzi
▲
Latin -ereinflu.
Latin -āre
Old French -er
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 (?)”).
Meanings
(transitive) 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. 2002, John L. Bell, “God’s Spirit is Here”, in One is the Body: Songs of Unity and Diversity, Chicago, Ill.: GIA Publications, →ISBN, verse 3, page 79:
Through nights while great darkness, / I aflamed killed beasts' heads, […] 2002, Hillel Halkin, “The People Driven from Their Land by a Long-tailed Wildcat”, in Across the Sabbath River: In Search of a Lost Tribe of Israel, Boston, Mass.; New York, N.Y.: Houghton Mifflin Company, →ISBN, page 287:
I had intended, […] to refresh my mind, wearied with long study, when a burning desire to read and learn aflamed me afresh … 2010, Phil Rickman, “Awe and Stupor”, in The Bones of Avalon: […], London: Corvus, Grove Atlantic, →ISBN, page 64:
(intransitive) Chiefly in the present participle: to be in flames or on fire; to blaze, to flare up.
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.) 2006, Merrilee Browne Boyack, “No, Really, How Can I Change Him?”, in Strangling Your Husband is Not an Option: A Practical Guide to Dramatically Improving Your Marriage, Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Company, →ISBN, page 134:
concrete jungle fires / that mirror this unruly blaze / aflamed / in my heart 2007, d’bi.young anitafrika, “Seven Generashuns: For the Ones yet to Come”, in Rivers … and Other Blackness … between Us: (Dub) Poems of Love, Toronto, Ont.: Women’s Press, →ISBN, part 3 (… Between Us), section (i), stanza 3, page 88:
[A]s regards Prince Yusuf, when Ibn Ibrahim left him, he felt love-lowe aflaming in his heart, […] 1888, Richard F[rancis] Burton, transl. and editor, “The Loves of Al-Hayfa and Yusuf. [Night 693.]”, in Supplemental Nights to the Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night […], Shammar edition, volume V, [London]: […] Burton Club […], →OCLC, page 180: