The definition of arson is the act of purposely setting fire to a building or area.
An example of arson would be when a person sets their home on fire to collect the insurance.
arson
the crime of purposely setting fire to another's building or property, or to one's own, as to collect insurance
Origin of arson
Old French ; from Late Latin arsio, fire ; from Classical Latin arsus, past participle of ardere, to burn: see asharson
noun
- The crime of intentionally and illegally setting fire to a building or other structure.
- An instance of this crime: a rash of arsons.
Origin of arson
Anglo-Norman, from Late Latin arsi&omacron;, arsi&omacron;n-, from Latin arsus, past participle of ard&emacron;re, to burn; see as- in Indo-European roots.Related Forms:
- ar′son·ist
noun
arson
Noun
(countable and uncountable, plural arsons)
Origin
Anglo-Norman and Old French arson, from the verb ardoir, from Latin ardeō (“to burn”). Compare ardent
arson - Legal Definition
n
- In common law, the willful and malicious burning of someone else’s dwelling house. In some states, the term includes, under specific circumstances, the burning of a dwelling house by its owner.
- Under modern statutes, the intentional causing of a dangerous fire or explosion for the purpose of destroying one’s own or another’s property.
