Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Three words for "to kindle"

accendere:  to set fire to from above, such that what burns burns downwards.

succendere:  to set fire to from below, such that what burns burns upwards.

incendere:  to set fire to on every side, such that what burns burns inwards.

Lewis & Short; the OLD says this for succendere only.

Ps 18 (17):29, Nova Vulgata (1979):  "you light [(accendis)] my lamp, O Lord: my God illuminates [(illuminat)] my darkness."

Ps 17 (18):29, Vulgata:  "thou lightest [(illuminas)] my lamp, O Lord: O my God enlighten [(illumina)] my darkness."

According to Sabatier, anyway (for the Psalms volume of Vetus Latina has not yet been completed), the Old Latin, too, has inluminas/inlumina.

Apparently eccendere (or extercendere) something would be impracticable, a "non-starter," as it were ☺.

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