ablaze

Everyday

1. Ablaze means burning strongly, on fire: «The barn was ablaze.» tree →
2. Ablaze with light or colour means shining very brightly: «The sky was ablaze with fireworks.» tree →
3. Ablaze with a feeling means full of strong feeling: «eyes ablaze with anger». tree →

In the lessons

In news and stories, «ablaze» describes fires (a house, a forest, a ship) and tells the reader of danger; in fire safety lessons, if a building is ablaze, get out, stay out and call the fire brigade. In descriptive writing, a garden «ablaze with colour» or a city «ablaze with lights» is beautiful. Phrases: «set ablaze», «ablaze with».

Examples

• The old barn was ablaze by the time the firefighters arrived. tree →
• Lightning set the forest ablaze. tree →
• The sky was ablaze with fireworks on Bonfire Night. tree →
• In autumn the trees are ablaze with red and gold. tree →
• Her eyes were ablaze with excitement. tree →
• The city was ablaze with Christmas lights. tree →
• The whole firmament was ablaze with the northern lights, and yet the darkness triumphed. tree →

Note

Usually after a verb: «the house was ablaze», not «an ablaze house». Say «a-BLAZE». Fire safety: never go back into a burning building.

In Jewish tradition

In Deuteronomy God's anger is pictured as a fire that sets even the foundations of the mountains ablaze.

Interpretation. Tradition reads this fire as a strong picture of the punishment that would follow if Israel turned away from God.

Examples

• For a fire is kindled in My nostril, and burneth unto the depths of the nether-world, and devoureth the earth with her produce, and setteth ablaze the foundations of the mountains. (Torah DEU.32.22, JPS 1917) tree →
• As the fire that burneth the forest, and as the flame that setteth the mountains ablaze; (Writings PSA.83.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• Unto Thee, O LORD, do I cry; for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath set ablaze all the trees of the field. (Prophets JOL.1.19, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Usually after a verb: «the house was ablaze», not «an ablaze house». Say «a-BLAZE». Fire safety: never go back into a burning building.