kindle

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɪn.dəl/

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• Rhymes: -ɪndəl

Etymology 1

From Middle English kindlen, from Old Norse kynda (“to inflame”), from Proto-Germanic *kundijaną.

Verb

kindle (third-person singular simple present kindles, present participle kindling, simple past and past participle kindled)

1. (transitive) To start (a fire) or light (a torch, a match, coals, etc.).
   • 1841, Ancient Laws and Institutes of Wales, page 336:

     If a person kindle a fire in the house of another person, let him pay for the house to the owner, if it be burned.

   • 1898, J. Meade Falkner, chapter 4, in Moonfleet, London, Toronto, Ont.: Jonathan Cape, published 1934:

     And then it was that I first perceived the danger in which I stood; for there was no hope of kindling a light, and I doubted now whether even in the light I could ever have done much to dislodge the great slab of slate.

   • 2013 July-August, Henry Petroski, “Geothermal Energy”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 4:

     Energy has seldom been found where we need it when we want it. Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame.

2. (transitive, figuratively) To arouse or inspire (a passion, etc).

   He kindled an enthusiasm for the project in his fellow workers.

   • 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XIX, in Francesca Carrara. , volume III, London: Richard Bentley, , (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 159:

     Let the young perish in their hour of promise—how much will they be spared!—passion, that kindles but to consume the heart, and leaves either vacancy or regret, a ruin or a desert;...

   • 2013, Peter Lancaster Brown, Megaliths, Myths and Men: An Introduction to Astro-Archaeology, page 111:

     The unfinished argument which had been smouldering dormantly like some quiescent volcano since Lockyer's day — suddenly boiled over in print. Hawkins' article in Nature kindled response from all quarters.

3. (intransitive, figuratively) To begin to grow or take hold.
   • 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volumes (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A Millar, , →OCLC:

     The doctor now interposed, and prevented the effects of a wrath which was kindling between Jones and Thwackum […]

Synonyms

• (to start a fire): ignite
• (to arouse): arouse, inspire

Antonyms

• (to start a fire): douse, extinguish
• (to arouse): dampen

Derived terms

Translations

Etymology 2

From Middle English kyndel, from kynde +‎ -el. The verb is derived from the noun form by conversion.

Noun

kindle (plural kindles)

1. (rare, collective) A group of kittens.

   A kindle of kittens.

Hypernyms

• clowder, glaring

Translations

Verb

kindle (third-person singular simple present kindles, present participle kindling, simple past and past participle kindled)

1. (intransitive, of a rabbit or hare) To bring forth young; to give birth.
   • c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , lines 344-46:

     ORLANDO Are you native of this place?
     ROSALIND As the cony that you see
     dwell where she is kindled.

   • 1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “(please specify |book=I to XXXVII)”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus. , (please specify |tome=1 or 2), London: Adam Islip, published 1635, →OCLC:

     The poor beast had but lately kindled.

   • 2014, Karen Patry, The Rabbit-Raising Problem Solver, Storey Publishing, →ISBN, page 146:

     If she kindled and lost just a few kits and is not bony over her back and hind end, you can rebreed immediately. If she kindled a large litter (more than, say, eight kits), you may wish to wait a week or two before rebreeding so that she can  ...

Translations

Adjective

in kindle (not comparable)

1. (of an animal) pregnant

Anagrams

• Kindel, delink, dinkle, inkled, kilned, klined, linked