Pyromaniacal


[pahy-ruh-mey-nee-uh, -meyn-yuh] /ˌpaɪ rəˈmeɪ ni ə, -ˈmeɪn yə/

noun
1.
a compulsion to set things on fire.
/ˌpaɪrəʊˈmeɪnɪə/
noun
1.
(psychiatry) the uncontrollable impulse and practice of setting things on fire
n.

1840, from pyro- “fire” + mania “madness, frenzy.” Used in German in the 1830s.

The propensity which leads an insane person to accomplish his purpose by burning, has been considered to merit particular notice, and to constitute a variety of monomania. Dr. Marc, of France, has published a memoir on the subject; he gives the name of pyromania to it, and considers that, like other insane propensities, it may be the result of instinct, or it may be the result of delusion–reasoning upon erroneous principles. [Alexander Morrison, M.D., “The Physiognomy of Mental Diseases,” London, 1840]

An older word for it was incendiarism.

pyromania py·ro·ma·ni·a (pī’rō-mā’nē-ə, -mān’yə)
n.
An uncontrollable impulse to start fires.
py’ro·ma’ni·ac’ (-mā’nē-āk’) adj. & n.
pyromania [(peye-roh-may-nee-uh)]

An uncontrollable urge to set fires.

Read Also:

  • Pyromaniac

    [pahy-ruh-mey-nee-uh, -meyn-yuh] /ˌpaɪ rəˈmeɪ ni ə, -ˈmeɪn yə/ noun 1. a compulsion to set things on fire. /ˌpaɪrəʊˈmeɪnɪə/ noun 1. (psychiatry) the uncontrollable impulse and practice of setting things on fire adj. 1855, from pyromania. As a noun from 1861. n. 1840, from pyro- “fire” + mania “madness, frenzy.” Used in German in the 1830s. […]

  • Qae

    quality assurance engineer

  • Qaf

    [kahf] /kɑf/ noun 1. the 21st letter of the Arabic alphabet, representing a uvular stop consonant sound.

  • Qahar

    [chah-hahr] /ˈtʃɑˈhɑr/ noun, Pinyin. 1. a former province of Inner Mongolia in NE China: divided 1952 among adjacent provinces.

  • Qaid

    [kah-eeth , kahyth] /kɑˈið, kaɪð/ noun 1. . [kah-eeth , kahyth] /kɑˈið, kaɪð/ noun 1. (in North Africa) a Muslim tribal chief, judge, or senior official. 2. a Berber chieftain. 3. an alcaide.


Disclaimer: Pyromaniacal definition / meaning should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. All content on this website is for informational purposes only.