Wordiyofire
Old EnglishVariants
Related Roots
About This Root
From Old English fȳr (fire, flame), from Proto-Germanic *fūr, cognate with Greek pyr. One of the oldest and most fundamental English words. Forms vivid compounds: firearm, firebrand (a burning stick, then a provocative person), firefighter, firefly (a flying fire), fireplace, and firework. The word's Germanic simplicity gives these compounds an immediate, concrete power.
Associated Words
fire
flames and burning; to shoot a weapon; to dismiss from a job
firearm
A portable weapon that fires projectiles using explosive powder
firebrand
An agitator who stirs up trouble; a burning piece of wood
firefighter
A person trained to put out fires
firefly
A small beetle that produces a glowing light at night
fireplace
An open hearth built into a wall for holding a fire indoors
firework
A device that produces colourful flames and explosions for celebration