combūrō

Accendere, incendere, and inflammare, mean ‘to set on fire:’ accendere, from without, and at a single point, like ἀνάπτειν [hence to light a torch, etc.]; incendere, from within, like ἐνδαίειν [hence to set fire to houses, villages]; inflammare, ‘to set on fire,’ either from without or from within, but with bright flames, like ἀναφλογίζειν; comburere and cremare mean ‘to burn up, or consume by fire;’ comburere, with a glowing heat, as the causative of ardere, like κατακαίειν; cremare, with bright flames, as the causative of flagrare like πιμπράναι. Hence, mortui cremantur on a bright blazing funeral pile; vivi comburuntur, Cic. Fam. x. 32. Verr. i. 33 and 38, in order to make the torture of that mode of dying felt the more. (iv. 250.)