adv. and pred. a. prop. phr. Forms: 3 afur(e, 4 o fure, afyr, 4–5 afere, 5 afyre, 4– afire. The forms in u (ü) 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. 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, Leg. G. Wom., 2493. The devyl sette here soules bothe a fere.
1604. T. Wright, Passions of Mind, V. § 4. 279. Lovers ire sets love afier.
1870. F. W. H. Myers, Poems 51.
| Then once with trembling knees and heart afire | |
| I ran, I sought him. |
