incendiary
UK: ɪnˈsɛndiəri | US: ɪnˈsɛndieri
adj. designed to cause fires or conflict
n. a person who deliberately starts fires or incites conflict
n. a substance used to ignite fires
incendiary = incend<fire> + iary<related to>
- incend (from Latin incendium "fire," derived from incendere "to set on fire")
- iary (Latin suffix -arius, indicating "related to" or "pertaining to")
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin incendium (fire) and incendere (to ignite). The suffix -iary (from -arius) denotes association, forming a term for things or people linked to fire-starting. Historically, it described literal fire-setting tools or arsonists, later expanding metaphorically to describe provocations in conflicts.
The police found incendiary devices in the suspect’s apartment.
His speech was criticized for its incendiary rhetoric.
The rebels used incendiary bombs to destroy the warehouse.
She avoided reading incendiary articles to stay calm.
The book explores the role of incendiary propaganda in wartime.