Pyromania
/ˌpaɪrəˈmeɪniə/noun
A compulsive fascination with fire-setting or fire.
Did you know?The word’s Greek roots combine pyr (“fire”) with mania (“madness, frenzy”), and that same mania-root also survives in words for divine frenzy and obsession.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
pyr
“fire”
Ancient Greek
Greek
mania
“madness, frenzy, inspired rage”
Late Latin
Latin
pyromania
“a burning madness or fire-frenzy”
19th Century
English
pyromania
“an abnormal obsession with setting fires”
Modern English
English
pyromania
“compulsive interest in fire-setting or fire”