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incendiary

 - 2 dictionary results

in⋅cen⋅di⋅ar⋅y

  [in-sen-dee-er-ee] adjective, noun, plural -ar⋅ies.
Use incendiary in a Sentence
–adjective
1. used or adapted for setting property on fire: incendiary bombs.
2. of or pertaining to the criminal setting on fire of property.
3. tending to arouse strife, sedition, etc.; inflammatory: incendiary speeches.
4. tending to inflame the senses: an incendiary extravaganza of music and dance.
–noun
5. a person who deliberately sets fire to buildings or other property, as an arsonist.
6. Military. a shell, bomb, or grenade containing napalm, thermite, or some other substance that burns with an intense heat.
7. a person who stirs up strife, sedition, etc.; an agitator.
Origin:
1600–10; < L incendiārius, equiv. to incendi(um) a fire (incend(ere) to kindle (in- in- 2 + -cendere, transit. v. from base of candēre to shine, be hot; see candent, candid, candor ) + -ium -ium ) + -ārius -ary
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To incendiary
in·cen·di·ar·y   (ĭn-sěn'dē-ěr'ē)   
adj.  

    1. Causing or capable of causing fire.

    2. Of or containing chemicals that produce intensely hot fire when exploded: an incendiary bomb.

    3. Of or involving arson.

  2. Tending to inflame; inflammatory: an incendiary speech.

n.   pl. in·cen·di·ar·ies

  1. An arsonist.

  2. An incendiary device.

  3. One who creates or stirs up factionalism or sedition; an agitator.


[Middle English, from Latin incendiārius, from incendium, fire, from incendere, to set on fire; see incense1.]
in·cen'di·a·rism (-ə-rĭz'əm) n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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