Word of the Day - 07/29/26
incendiary
/ɪn'sɛndi,ɛri/(n.): a bomb that is designed to start fires; is most effective against flammable targets (such as fuel)
The military used incendiary devices to clear the heavily forested enemy strongholds.
(adj.): capable of catching fire spontaneously or causing fires or burning readily
Be careful with that material; it's highly incendiary if not stored properly.
(adj.): arousing to action or rebellion
His incendiary speech ignited a wave of protests across the city.
(n.): a criminal who illegally sets fire to property
The police are still searching for the incendiary who set the old warehouse ablaze.
(adj.): involving deliberate burning of property
The fire marshal ruled the cause of the inferno was incendiary in nature, suggesting arson.
Word Origin
The word 'incendiary' originates from Late Latin 'incendiarius', meaning 'setting fires'. This comes from the Latin noun 'incendium', meaning 'a fire', which in turn is derived from the Latin verb 'incendere', meaning 'to set on fire'. The verb 'incendere' is formed from the prefix 'in-' (meaning 'into' or 'on') and the root 'candere' (meaning 'to glow' or 'to burn').
Words with similar origins include 'incense' (both the verb 'to inflame' and the noun 'aromatic smoke'), 'candle', 'candid', 'incandescent', and 'candescent', all of which trace back to the Latin root 'candere' or its related forms concerning light and burning.