incendiary

WOTD - 25 March 2009    

English

Etymology

From Latin incendiārius (“setting alight”), from incendium (“destructive fire”), from incendō (“set on fire, kindle”)

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: ĭnsĕn'dĭərē, IPA: /ɪnˈsɛn.dɪ.əɹ.ɪ/, /ɪnˈsɛn.djəɹ.ɪ/, SAMPA: /In"sEn.dI.@r.I/, /In"sEn.dj@r.I/
• (US) enPR: ĭnsĕn´dĭĕ'rē, IPA: /ɪnˈsɛn.di.ɛr.i/, /ɪnˈsɛn.di.ɚ.i/, SAMPA: /In"sEn.di.Er.i/, /In"sEn.di.@`.i/

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Adjective

incendiary (comparative more incendiary, superlative most incendiary)

1. Capable of causing fire.
2. Intentionally stirring up strife, riot, rebellion
3. Inflammatory, emotionally charged.

   Politics is an incendiary topic; it tends to cause fights to break out.

Translations

capable of causing fire

Chinese: 放火的 Czech: zápalný (cs), žhářský (cs) Finnish: tulenarka (fi) French: incendiaire (fr) Italian: incendiario (it)

Polish: zapalający (pl) m. Portuguese: incendiário (pt) Russian: зажигательный (ru) Scottish Gaelic: loisgeach (gd) Urdu: آتِش گیر (ātish'geer)

intentionally stirring up strife, riot, rebellion

Czech: buřičský (cs) Finnish: lietsova (fi) Polish: wichrzycielski (pl) m.

Russian: подстрекающий, разжигающий Scottish Gaelic: loisgeach (gd)

inflammatory, emotionally charged

Chinese: Simplified: 煽动的 Traditional: 煽動的 Czech: ohnivý (cs)

Finnish: tulenarka (fi) Polish: prowokacyjny (pl) m. Portuguese: inflamado (pt), acalorado (pt)

Noun

incendiary (plural incendiaries)

1. Something capable of causing fire, particularly a weapon.

   The military used incendiaries to destroy the building, fortunately the fire didn't spread.

Translations

something capable of causing fire

Finnish: palopommi (fi) (weapon), sytyke (fi) (general) German: (military) Brandbombe (de) f. Polish: bomba (pl) f. zapalająca (pl) f.

Russian: зажигательный боеприпас m. Volapük: lefilükamaboum (vo)