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Added 9 October 2026

aflame

/əˈfleɪm/ adjective

Latin root: flamma Wiktionary

adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about aflame at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Keenly excited (especially sexually) or indicating excitement.
his face all ablaze with excitement
Lighted up by or as by fire or flame.
forests set ablaze (or afire) by lightning

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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