inflame

 
Pronunciation: /ɪnˈfleɪm/

verb

[with object]
  • 1provoke or intensify (strong feelings, especially anger) in someone: high fines further inflamed public feelings
  • provoke (someone) to strong feelings: her sister was inflamed with jealousy
  • make (a situation) worse: comments that inflame what is already a sensitive situation
  • 2cause inflammation in (a part of the body): the finger joints were inflamed with rheumatoid arthritis (as adjective inflamed) inflamed eyes and lips
  • 3 literary light up with or as if with flames: the torches inflame the night to the eastward

Origin:

Middle English enflaume, inflaume, from Old French enflammer, from Latin inflammare, from in- 'into' + flamma 'flame'