kindle

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɪn.dəl/

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• Audio (General Australian):

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• Rhymes: -ɪndəl

From Middle English kindlen, from Old Norse kynda (“to inflame”), from Proto-Germanic *kundijaną.

kindle (third-person singular simple present kindles, present participle kindling, simple past and past participle kindled)

1. (transitive) To start (a fire) or light (a torch, a match, coals, etc.).

   Synonyms: fire, ignite, inflame, set on fire; see also Thesaurus:kindle

   Antonyms: douse, extinguish

   • 1841, Ancient Laws and Institutes of Wales, page 336:

     If a person kindle a fire in the house of another person, let him pay for the house to the owner, if it be burned.

   • [1898], J[ohn] Meade Falkner, “In the Vault”, in Moonfleet, London; Toronto, Ont.: Jonathan Cape, published 1934, →OCLC, page 65:

     And then it was that I first perceived the danger in which I stood; for there was no hope of kindling a light, and I doubted now whether even in the light I could ever have done much to dislodge the great slab of slate.

   • 2013 July-August, Henry Petroski, “Geothermal Energy”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 4:

     Energy has seldom been found where we need it when we want it. Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame.

2. (transitive, figurative) To arouse or inspire (a passion, etc).

   Synonyms: arouse, inspire; see also Thesaurus:enliven, Thesaurus:incite

   Antonym: dampen

   He kindled an enthusiasm for the project in his fellow workers.

   • 1648, Robert Herrick, “Delight in Disorder”, in Hesperides: Or, The Works both Humane & Divine […], London: […] John Williams, and Francis Eglesfield, and are to be sold by Tho[mas] Hunt, […], →OCLC, page 29:

     A Svveet diſorder in the dreſſe / Kindles in cloathes a vvantonneſſe: […]

   • 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XIX, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 159:

     Let the young perish in their hour of promise—how much will they be spared!—passion, that kindles but to consume the heart, and leaves either vacancy or regret, a ruin or a desert;...

   • 2013, Peter Lancaster Brown, Megaliths, Myths and Men: An Introduction to Astro-Archaeology, page 111:

     The unfinished argument which had been smouldering dormantly like some quiescent volcano since Lockyer's day — suddenly boiled over in print. Hawkins' article in Nature kindled response from all quarters.

3. (intransitive, figurative) To begin to grow or take hold.
   • 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:

     The doctor now interposed, and prevented the effects of a wrath which was kindling between Jones and Thwackum […]

From Middle English kyndel, from kynde +‎ -el. The verb is derived from the noun form by conversion.

kindle (plural kindles)

1. (rare, collective) A group of kittens.

   A kindle of kittens.

• clowder, glaring

kindle (third-person singular simple present kindles, present participle kindling, simple past and past participle kindled)

1. (intransitive, of a rabbit or hare) To bring forth young; to give birth.
   • c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], lines 344-46:

     ORLANDO Are you native of this place?
     ROSALIND As the cony that you see
     dwell where she is kindled.

   • 1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “(please specify |book=I to XXXVII)”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus. […], (please specify |tome=1 or 2), London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC:

     The poor beast had but lately kindled.

   • 2014, Karen Patry, The Rabbit-Raising Problem Solver, Storey Publishing, →ISBN, page 146:

     If she kindled and lost just a few kits and is not bony over her back and hind end, you can rebreed immediately. If she kindled a large litter (more than, say, eight kits), you may wish to wait a week or two before rebreeding so that she can  ...

in kindle (not comparable)

1. (of an animal) pregnant

• Elkind, Dinkel, klined, Kindel, kilned, delink, kneidl, inkled, dinkle, linked