INCENDIARY


Meaning of INCENDIARY in English

I. -dēˌerē, -ri noun

( -es )

Etymology: Latin incendiarius, adjective & noun, from incendium conflagration (from incendere to kindle, set afire) + -arius -ary — more at incense

1.

a. : a person who deliberately sets fire to a building or other property

b. : an incendiary agent (as a bomb)

2. : a person who excites or inflames factions and promotes quarrels or sedition : agitator , exciter

3. obsolete : an exciting or causative factor especially of something bad or unpleasant

II. adjective

Etymology: Latin incendiarius

1. : of, relating to, or involving a deliberate burning of property

incendiary fires

an incendiary crime

2.

a. : tending to excite or inflame factions, sedition, or quarrels : inflammatory , seditious

an incendiary speech

incendiary literature

b. : sexually stimulating

an incendiary blonde

3.

a. : igniting combustible materials spontaneously

an incendiary agent

b. : relating to, being, or involving the use of an explosive missile containing chemicals that ignite on bursting

incendiary grenade

incendiary warfare

— see incendiary bomb

III. adjective

: very hot and spicy : fiery 2a — used of food

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.