adv. and pred. a., properly phrase, a blaze; older form, on blaze. [f. A prep.1 + BLAZE.]
1. In a blaze, in a flame.
1393. Gower, Conf. Am., v. 3510. II. 244. That casten fire and flame aboute So that they setten all on blase.
1801. Southey, Thalaba, XII. 15. All ablaze, as if infernal fires Illum’d the world beneath.
1863. Tyndall, Heat, i. Forests are sometimes set ablaze by lightning.
1876. Freeman, Norm. Conq., III. xi. 71. The sky was ablaze with a mighty mass of flame.
2. fig. a. In flashing or brilliant colors, gleaming.
1851. Longf., Gold. Leg., IV. iii. What treasures of heart these pages hold, All ablaze with silver and gold.
1878. Black, Green Past. & Picc., ii. 12. A wilderness of sandy heath and dark-green common now all ablaze with gorse and broom.
b. In the full glow of excitement.
1851. Carlyle, Sterling, I. ii. (1872), 60. The young Cambridge democrats were all ablaze to assist Torrijos.
1859. Lytton, What will he do? I. 93. The London season was still ablaze.
1879. J. D. Long, Æneid, IX. 961. Ablaze with anger at his brother’s death.
