EtymologyMap
Back to all words

Trace the journey of words

Today it means

kindle

to start a fire burning, or to arouse strong feelings

Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate

Where does the word "kindle" come from? It comes from Old Norse kynda, and was adopted directly into English (1200s).

Read the full story

Where does the word "kindle" come from? It comes from Old Norse kynda, and was adopted directly into English (1200s).

Kindle’s story begins in Old Norse: kynda meant “to set fire to.” The Amazon Kindle e-reader took the name in 2007. It reached English by 1200s as kindle. Settled as the English word for starting a fire or stirring emotion. Today, kindle means to start a fire burning, or to arouse strong feelings.

  1. Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval kynda "to set fire to", the Amazon Kindle e-reader took the name in 2007.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1200s kindle "to start a fire, or to arouse a feeling", settled as the English word for starting a fire or stirring emotion.

Browse by origin