I. ˈkind ə l, rapid -n ə l verb
( kindled ; kindled ; kindling -( ə )liŋ ; kindles )
Etymology: Middle English kindlen, from Old Norse kynda to kindle + Middle English -len -le; akin to Middle High German künten, künden to kindle, Old High German cunte sal fire
transitive verb
1. : to start (a fire) burning : light , ignite
kindle a fire with a match
2.
a. : to awaken or intensify to awareness
armies cannot be raised … unless the rage of the people is first kindled by lies and name-calling — Kenneth Roberts
these two delightful … handbooks should kindle a child's imagination — Muna Lee
b. : to stir up : arouse , inspire
his enthusiasm kindles his comrades
hopes that … kindled close to half of France — Janet Flanner
c. : to bring into being : institute
the Good Neighbor policy … which was kindled by Sumner Welles — A.C.Wilgus
3. : to cause to glow : illuminate
animation kindling his pale face — A.J.Cronin
kindling with color the pale lichens — Thomas Vance
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to start a fire
some fire to kindle with — Stith Thompson
b. : to begin to burn : catch fire
dry leaves kindle at the touch of flame
2.
a. : to flare up : gather intensity
their mutual resentment again kindled — Edward Gibbon
b. : to grow warm or animated : become stirred emotionally
no boy will fail to kindle to the struggles of his California youth — Ethna Sheehan
3. : to sparkle or become illuminated as if with fire : glow
light kindled in the liquor — Frances G. Patton
could see her eyes widen, kindle and flinch — John Fountain
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, probably from kinde, kind, n., kind + -le — more at kind
now dialect : the young of an animal : litter
a kindle of kittens
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- in kindle
III. verb
( kindled ; kindled ; kindling ; kindles )
Etymology: Middle English kindlen, probably from kindle, n.
transitive verb
: to give birth to : bear
one of our does kindled a single rabbit — American Small Stock Farmer
intransitive verb
: to bring forth young
bred one of the Angora does to kindle about the time I would be making the move — Standard Rabbit Journal
— now used chiefly of a rabbit