n. 1. The crime of intentionally and illegally setting fire to a building or other structure. 2. An instance of this crime: a rash of arsons. [Anglo-Norman, from Late Latin ārsiō, ārsiōn-, from Latin ārsus, past participle of ārdēre, to burn; see as- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] arson·ist n. |
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