1. trans. To cause (a flame, etc.) to blaze up. Chiefly fig. to excite (passions, war, etc.).
1583. Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 63. Whose sight thy passion angrye Enkendleth.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T. (1613), 38. A short blazd straw-fire, to tinde or inkindle Hell-fire.
1652. Bp. Patrick, Fun. Serm., in J. Smith’s Sel. Disc., 533. He who inflames our souls with love to God, will certainly enkindle a subordinate love within us to himself.
a. 1691. Boyle, Wks., VI. 531 (R.). The apprehension … ran … of its [the Fire of London] being inkindled with design by the French and Dutch.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 185, ¶ 7. Fresh remembrance of vexation must still enkindle rage.
1794. S. Williams, Vermont, 307. All parties had cautiously avoided enkindling a civil war.
1819. Month. Mag., XLVIII. 307. This poetic fury appears to have been first enkindled in Bodmer by the appearance of the five first books of Klopstock’s Messiah.
1858. Kingsley, Andromeda, 329. In her heart new life was enkindled.
2. To set (a combustible) on fire. In lit. sense Obs. or arch.
1549. Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Rom. xiii. 39 b (R.). Nor let vs extinguishe the smolderyng flaxe, but enkendle it.
1638. Wilkins, New World, iii. (1707), 29. Such solid Orbs, that by their swift Motion might heat and enkindle the adjoining Air.
1747. Hales, in Phil. Trans., XLIV. 582 (2). Some Means … to inkindle the sulphureous Vapours.
1794. T. Taylor, Pausanias’ Descr. Greece, I. 43. But then the pieces of wood … were enkindled without fire.
b. fig. To inflame with passion, desire, etc. † Former const. to (an action, object of pursuit).
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., IV. xvi. (1634), 662. They shall hereby be the more inkindled to the endevor of renuing.
1605. Shaks., Macb. I. iii. 120. That trusted home, Might yet enkindle you vnto the Crowne.
a. 1619. Daniel, Coll. Hist. Eng. (1626), 25. The King … inkindled with this affront, spared not his Person, to auenge his wrath.
1628. Bp. Hall, Old Relig., 34. He is inwardly inkindled to an indeauour of good.
1834. Disraeli, Rev. Epick, III. xiii. 180. The voice, that like a trump Their blood enkindled.
c. transf. To light up, illuminate.
1870. Lowell, Study Wind., 114. That literary heaven … artificially enkindled from behind.
1876. Swinburne, Erechtheus, 1372. And the light of their eyeballs enkindled so bright with the lightnings of death.
† 3. intr. To take fire; to burst forth in flame.
1553. Grimalde, trans. Cicero’s Duties (c. 1600), 87 a. Those things wherunto most men inkindled with greedinesse bee haled.
1671. Salmon, Syn. Med., I. xxxvii. 84. Wet Hay laid together … soon inkindles.
1747. Hales, in Phil. Trans., XLIV. 584. Those who have been on high Hills have observed Lightening to inkindle among the Clouds.
