Arson Meaning
/ˈɑɹsən/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe crime of deliberately starting a fire with intent to cause damage.
verbTo illegally set fire to; to burn down in a criminal manner.
Sentence Examples
The fire that broke out last night was judged to be caused by arson.
It was a fire by arson.
Sami was found guilty on all arson counts.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The fire was no accident; the police confirmed it was ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The police suspected ____ after the old warehouse burned down quickly.
Word Origin & History
From Anglo-Norman and Old French arson, from the verb ardoir, from Latin ardeō (“to burn”). Compare ardent.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Arson, like we thought. three punks doused a car, lit it, and took off."
— 2006, Paul Chadwick, Concrete: Killer Smile, Part two, p.34:
"The kyng of Englande mounted on a freſhe courſer, the trapper of clothe of golde, of Tiſſue, the Arſon mantell wiſe[…]"
— 1550, Edward Halle, “The xij. yere of King Henry the viij.”, in The Vnion of the Two Noble and Illuſtre Famelies of Lancaſtre and Yoꝛke, folio 78, recto:
"Arcione, the arſon or ſaddle bowe."
— 1598, John Florio, “Arcione”, in A Worlde of Words, or Most Copious, and Exact Dictionarie in Italian and English, […], London: […] Arnold Hatfield for Edw[ard] Blount, →OCLC, page 25, column 1:
"[…]And putting vp good ſtore of gold and Iewels for that iourney, and taking with him a good horſe, that was browne Bay, with a Petronell hanging at the arſon of his Saddle[…]"
— 1634, Matheo Aleman, “Wherein Guzman de Alfarache relateth the Story of thoſe two Louers, Ozmin and Daraxa”, in Don Diego Puede-Ser, transl., The rogue: or The life of Guzman de Alfarache, volume 1, pages 68–69:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The fire was no accident; the police confirmed it was ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The police suspected ____ after the old warehouse burned down quickly.