different between incendiary vs pyromaniac

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Old French incendiaire, from Latin incendi?rius (“setting alight”), from incendium (“destructive fire”), from incend? (“I set on fire, kindle”), from in- (“into, in, on, upon”) + cande? (“I am hot”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: ?ns?n'd??r?, IPA^(key): /?n?s?n.d?.??.i/, /?n?s?n.dj??.i/
• (US) enPR: ?ns?n´d??'r?, IPA^(key): /?n?s?n.di.??.i/, /?n?s?n.di.??.i/
• ,

Adjective

incendiary (comparative more incendiary, superlative most incendiary)

1. Capable of, or used for, or actually causing fire.
2. (figuratively) Intentionally stirring up strife, riot, rebellion.
   • 2014, Ian Thomson, Primo Levi: A Life, Metropolitan Books (?ISBN), page 123:

     Earlier that year Italian Jews had come under serious attack when an incendiary publication, Gli ebrei in Italia (The Jews in Italy), had flooded the bookshops. The author, Paolo Orano, was a Fascist publicist whose book helped to harden Italian public sensibility against the Jews and pave the way for their eventual persecution.

3. (figuratively) Inflammatory, emotionally charged.

Translations

Noun

incendiary (plural incendiaries)

1. Something capable of causing fire, particularly a weapon.

2. One who maliciously sets fires.

   Synonym: arsonist

3. (figuratively) One who excites or inflames factions into quarrels.

   Synonym: agitator

   • March 7, 1692, Richard Bentley, The Folly of Atheism

     Several cities […] drove them out as incendiaries.

Translations

English

Etymology

pyro- +? -maniac

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?pa??o??me?niæk/, /?pa????me?niæk/
• Rhymes: -e?niæk

Noun

pyromaniac (plural pyromaniacs)

1. A person suffering from pyromania

Related terms

• pyromania
• pyromanic
• pyromaniacal

Translations

See also

• arsonist

Further reading

• Pyromania on Wikipedia.Wikipedia