kindle-fire

English

Etymology

kindle +‎ fire

Pronunciation

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Noun

kindle-fire (plural kindle-fires)

1. (obsolete, idiomatic) Something, such as a person or event, that initiates events or incites a response.
   • 1662, William Gurnall, chapter XXV, in Christian in Compleat Armour‎, volume 3, section 4, page 218:

     This is the Whiſperer that ſeparates chief friends, and makes thoſe that have drunk of our Cup, to lift up the heel upon us; and with whom we have taken ſweet counſel together, to plot our ruine, and give counfel gainſt our very life. In a word, ſuch a kindle-fire ſin is, that the flames it kindles, flye not only from one Neighbours houſe to the other, but from one Nation to another. All the water in the Sea that runs between Kingdom and Kingdom, cannot quench the Wars it raiſeth: But it makes men that live at one end of the World , thirſt for the blood and treaſure of thoſe that live at the other […]

   • 1693, Sir Walter Raleigh, “A Breviary of the Hiſtory of England; Beginning at the Reign of King William the Iſt, Entitled the Conqueror”, in The Works of Sir Walter Raleigh, Kt., section 24, London: R. Dodsley, published 1751, page 304:

     And now there reſted nothing, for the general Quieting of the Kingdom, but only the Suppreſſion of Malcolm King of Scots, the greateſt Kindle-fire of all theſe Conſpiracies in the North Parts, and the only Refuge for all that were diſcontented and mutinous in this State.

Synonyms

• (event): incitement, instigation, spark, trigger
• (person): inciter, instigator, kindle-coal; see also Thesaurus:troublemaker

Anagrams

• friendlike