Etymology

aflame

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Today it means: Often preceded by set: in or into flames; so as to be burned by fire. Full definition →

Middle English a-flame ← Anglo-Norman flaume ← Old French flame
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aflame · adverb, adjective1

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂en-
  2. Proto-Germanic*an
  3. Proto-West Germanic*ana
  4. Old Englishon
  5. Middle Englisha-
  6. Proto-Indo-European*bʰel-
  7. Proto-Italic*flagmā
  8. Latinflamma
  9. Old Frenchflame
  10. Anglo-Normanflaume
  11. Middle Englishflawme
  12. Middle Englisha-flame
  13. English todayaflame

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.

aflame · verb2

  1. Proto-Indo-European*ud-s-?
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂u-s-?
  3. Proto-Germanic*uz-
  4. Proto-West Germanic*uʀ-
  5. Old Englishar-
  6. Old Englishā-
  7. Middle Englisha-
  8. Englisha-
  9. Proto-Indo-European*bʰel-
  10. Proto-Italic*flagmā
  11. Latinflammula
  12. Old Frenchflamble
  13. Old Frenchflambe
  14. Old Frenchflamber
  15. Middle Englishflawmen
  16. Englishflame
  17. English todayaflame

From a- (intensifying prefix) + flame (verb). Flame is derived from Middle English flamen, flaumben, flaumen, flawmen (“to emit flames, blaze; to shine like fire, gleam; to arouse (an emotion), kindle; to give off (an odour); of an odour: to issue; (cooking) to baste (meat) with grease; to glaze (pastry)”), from Anglo-Norman flaumber, flaumer, and Old French flamber, flammer (“to blaze, burn”) (modern French flamber), from flambe, flamme (“flame”, noun) + -er (variant of -ier (suffix forming verbs)). Flamme is derived from Latin flamma (“fire; flame”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-, bʰl̥g- (“to blaze, burn; to glow, shine; to be bright or brightly coloured (?); bright flame, fire (?)”).

Words from the same roots

Old Frenchflame all →

flame

Latinflamma all →

flameflamingoflammagenitus

Proto-Indo-European*bʰel- all →

bloodboldflamespellballoonflavorblazeblazerblushbleachbalebellowblemishblainblitheCymbelineeffulgentBelenusbieldblikefilicologythrapple

Old Frenchflamber all →

flame

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.