Catches fire or begins to burn; or metaphorically, to stir up strong feelings or start something energetically.
From Latin 'ignis' meaning fire, plus the verb suffix '-ate.' The term has been used since the 16th century for both literal combustion and figurative excitement.
The Latin root 'ignis' (fire) gave English not just 'ignite' but also 'igneous' rocks and even 'pignorate' (to pledge)—showing how one ancient word for fire branched into dozens of English words!
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