enflame

the word enflame is formed by combining the causative prefix 'en-' with the noun 'flame.' it entered english in the late 14th century from old french 'enflamer,' which itself derived from latin 'inflammare' (to set on fire), from 'in-' (in) and 'flamma' (flame). the literal sense of "to set on fire" was the original meaning, but by the late 16th century, the figurative sense of "to excite passions, to provoke" became dominant. this evolution follows a common metaphorical path where the physical intensity of fire is applied to emotional or situational intensity.

Structure: en (cause to be) + flame (fire) en is a prefix of latin origin via old french, meaning "to cause to be, put into." flame is a noun of latin origin (flamma), meaning "fire, blaze."