afire, adv. and pred. a., prop. phr.
(əˈfaɪə(r))
Forms: 3 afur(e, 4 o fure, afyr, 4–5 afere, 5 afyre, 4– afire. The forms in u (y) are s.w., that in e Kentish.
[a- prep.1 11 of state, in + fire. The full on fyr is not found early; Wyclif has in fire.]
1. On or in fire, in a state of burning or inflammation; esp. in phr. to set afire.
| 1205 Layamon 27109 Þat sculden for Ardure Rome ifullen afure. 1297 R. Glouc. 380 Þe gret cyte of Medes suþþe afure he sette. c 1350 Body & Soul 347 The world shal al o fure ben. 1447 O. Bokenham Lyvys Seyntys 168 Wyth a brynnyng chere As alle the hous had been afere. 1480 Caxton Chron. Eng. cxcii. 168 The scottes sette a fyre the stakkes of heye. 1647 Fuller Good Thoughts (1841) 135 If our clay cottage be not cooled with rest, the roof falls a fire. a 1845 Hood Ode to Son i, Why, Jane! he'll set his pinafore a-fire! 1869 Dickens Lett. (1880) II. 416 We have had our sitting-room chimney afire this morning. |
2. fig. of passion, etc.
| 1382 Wyclif James iii. 6 And it enflaumed, or set afijre, of helle, enflaumeth the wheel of oure birthe. [Tindale, Genev., a fyre.] 1384 Chaucer L.G.W. 2493 The devyl sette here soules bothe a fere. 1604 T. Wright Passions of Mind v. §4. 279 Lovers ire sets love afier. 1875 F. W. H. Myers Poems 51 With trembling knees and heart afire. |