v. [f. L. conflagrāt-, ppl. stem of conflagrā-re to burn, burn up; f. con- + flagrāre to blaze: see FLAGRANT, FLAME.]
1. intr. To catch fire, burst into flame. Also fig.
1657. Tomlinson, Renou’s Disp., 572. Reeds … by the agitation of the wind … sometimes conflagrate.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. II. vi. Civil war, conflagrating universally over France.
1854. Tait’s Mag., XXI. 560. If he should conflagrate into song.
2. trans. To set a-blaze; to burn up, consume with fire. Also fig.
1835. Croker, Ess. (1856), 313. The most sudden and violent excitement which ever conflagrated a nation.
1838. Carlyle, Ess. (1888), VI. 32. Popularity is as a blaze … kindled round a man … conflagrating the poor man himself into ashes and caput mortuum.
Hence Conflagrated ppl. a.
1866. Carlyle, Remin. (1881), II. 175. [His health] was in a strangely painful, and as if conflagrated condition.
