different between afire vs fiery

English

Etymology

13^thc., from a- (“on”) +? fire. Figurative usage from late 14^thc.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??fa??(?)/
• Rhymes: -a??(?)

Adverb

afire (comparative more afire, superlative most afire)

1. On fire (often metaphorically).

Adjective

afire (comparative more afire, superlative most afire)

1. On fire (often metaphorically).

Quotations

• 1856, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Aurora Leigh, New York: C.S. Francis & Co., 1857, Seventh Book, p. 275^[1]:

  […] Earth’s crammed with heaven, / And every common bush afire with God:

• 1931, Nacio Herb Brown and Gordon Clifford, “Paradise” (song first sung by Pola Negri and later covered by Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra):

  Her eyes afire / With one desire. / Then a heavenly kiss: / Could I resist?

• 1950, Mervyn Peake, Gormenghast, London: Eyre & Spottiswoode, Chapter 63:

  Old claw-like hands, cracked with long years of thankless toil, would hold aloft a delicate bird of wood, its wings, as thin as paper, spread for flight, its breast afire with a crimson stain.

Synonyms

• ablaze
• aflame

Translations

References

Anagrams

• Arfie, Feria, Freia, faire, feria, rafie

English

Etymology

From Middle English firi, from fir (“fire”). Equivalent to fire +? -y.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?fa???i/
• Rhymes: -a??ri

Adjective

fiery (comparative more fiery or fierier, superlative most fiery or fieriest)

1. Of or relating to fire.
2. Burning or glowing.
3. Inflammable or easily ignited.
4. Having the colour of fire.
5. Hot or inflamed.
6. Tempestuous or emotionally volatile.

7. Spirited or filled with emotion.

Derived terms

• fiery cross

Translations

Anagrams

• firey, reify