enkindle

C2+ Topic:Emotions & Feelings

US /ɛnˈkɪndəl/ UK /ɪnˈkɪndəl/ See IPA manual

verb

Meanings

1

verb
to set alight or to arouse a feeling

Her speech enkindled hope in the disheartened crowd.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to set alight or to arouse... kindle ignite inflame arouse incite spark stir

Opposites

extinguish quench stifle dampen

Word family

Related forms kindlekindlingrekindle

Etymology

From en- (intensive prefix) + kindle, from Middle English kindlen, probably from Old Norse kynda ('to kindle, set fire to').

kynda Old Norse

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Emotions & Feelings

# enkindle

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** ɛnˈkɪndəl
**IPA (UK):** ɪnˈkɪndəl

## Meanings
1. to set alight or to arouse a feeling

## Examples
- Her speech enkindled hope in the disheartened crowd.

## Synonyms
- kindle
- ignite
- inflame
- arouse
- incite
- spark
- stir

## Antonyms
- extinguish
- quench
- stifle
- dampen

## Related Forms
- kindle
- kindling
- rekindle

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: kynda

## Etymology
From en- (intensive prefix) + kindle, from Middle English kindlen, probably from Old Norse kynda ('to kindle, set fire to').

## AI Etymology
Enkindle comes from en- (intensive prefix) + kindle, from Middle English kindlen, probably from Old Norse kynda ('to kindle, set fire to'). The etymological trail includes Old Norse kynda. As a verb, enkindle means to set alight or to arouse a feeling. The same family is visible in related forms such as kindle, kindling, and rekindle. The wording should be read with that uncertainty intact: the proposed connection is plausible rather than absolute.

## Topics
- Emotions & Feelings

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