What does enkindle mean?
Enkindle is a verb meaning both to set on fire and, far more commonly today, to awaken or inspire a powerful feeling such as passion, hope, love, or enthusiasm. It was formed in the mid-sixteenth century by adding the prefix en- to the older verb kindle, itself derived from Old Norse kynda, meaning 'to light a fire'. While its earliest uses described the literal act of igniting combustible material, that sense has largely fallen away, surviving chiefly in poetry and religious prose. In contemporary English, enkindle appears almost exclusively in elevated or literary contexts: a speech may enkindle courage, a teacher's example may enkindle a lifelong love of learning, and a story may enkindle the imagination. Its connotations are warm and positive, suggesting flames of feeling rising within a person. Writers who choose enkindle over the everyday alternatives signal deliberation and rhetorical flourish, making it a useful word for formal essays, sermons, and evocative prose.
verbTo set something on fire or cause it to burn; figuratively, to arouse or inspire a strong feeling, passion, or emotion in someone.
- To set alight; to cause to burn (literal use, now rare).
- To arouse, inspire, or awaken an emotion, passion, or intellectual activity.
"The speaker's stirring words enkindled a spirit of hope throughout the crowd."
"The dry kindling enkindled quickly once the flame caught."
"Her memoir enkindled a renewed interest in the forgotten composer's work."
Enkindle has been setting hearts ablaze since the 1500s — literally at first, then almost entirely as a metaphor for passions of the mind and soul.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of enkindle
Enkindle originated in sixteenth-century English, formed by prefixing en- ('to make, put into') onto kindle, which derives from Old Norse kynda, 'to light a fire', likely reinforced by related Scandinavian forms. The word thus shares deep Germanic roots with cinder and candle. Cognates and relatives from the same fire-word family include kindling, incense (via Latin), and incendiary (from Latin incendere, 'to set on fire').
How enkindle is actually used
Enkindle is markedly formal and literary in register; in everyday speech and writing, ignite or kindle are far more common. The literal fire-lighting sense survives mainly in poetry, religious writing, and older texts — modern usage is overwhelmingly figurative, describing emotions such as love, hope, zeal, or curiosity being awakened.
Easily confused with enkindle
Kindle means to light a fire or awaken a feeling, while enkindle is the more formal, literary variant of the same idea, intensified by the prefix en-.
Rekindle means to relight or revive something that had gone out or faded, whereas enkindle refers to lighting or arousing it in the first place.