arson

[ ahr-suhn ]
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noun
  1. Law. the malicious burning of another's house or property, or in some statutes, the burning of one's own house or property, as to collect insurance.

Origin of arson

1
First recorded in 1670–80; from Anglo-French, Old French, from Late Latin ārsiōn-, stem of ārsiō “a burn,” from ārs(us) “burned” (past participle of Latin ārd(ere) “to burn”; cf. ardent) + -iō -ion

Other words from arson

  • ar·son·ous, adjective

Words that may be confused with arson

Words Nearby arson

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How to use arson in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for arson

arson

/ (ˈɑːsən) /


noun
  1. criminal law the act of intentionally or recklessly setting fire to another's property or to one's own property for some improper reason

Origin of arson

1
C17: from Old French, from Medieval Latin ārsiō, from Latin ārdēre to burn; see ardent

Derived forms of arson

  • arsonist, noun

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