AFAIK, “flammable” is a shortening of “inflammable,” which confused some people—they thought the “in-” part was a prefix of negation. Consequently, some people might have employed insufficient caution around large fuel containers marked “inflammable.” Most people seem to more easily understand “flammable” as meaning burnable, by analogy with “flame,” than “inflammable” by analogy with “to inflame.”
Mr. Rosser,
AFAIK, “flammable” is a shortening of “inflammable,” which confused some people—they thought the “in-” part was a prefix of negation. Consequently, some people might have employed insufficient caution around large fuel containers marked “inflammable.” Most people seem to more easily understand “flammable” as meaning burnable, by analogy with “flame,” than “inflammable” by analogy with “to inflame.”