Conflagration
/ˌkɑːnfləˈɡreɪʃən/noun
A large, destructive fire.
Did you know?Conflagration comes from Latin *conflagrare*, and the root *flagrare* means “to burn,” the same fire-root behind words like *flagrant* and *inflammatory* language.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
conflagrare
“to burn up; to set on fire”
Latin
Latin
conflagrationem
“a burning up, fire”
Late Middle English
English
conflagracioun
“a great fire; a burning”
16th Century
English
conflagration
“a large destructive fire”
Modern English
English
conflagration
“a large destructive fire”
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