Supplying something with fuel for energy or power; also, encouraging or intensifying something.
From Old French 'fouel' and Latin 'focus' (hearth/fire). The metaphorical use for encouraging abstract things (like 'fueling conflict') emerged in the 20th century.
We use fuel metaphorically everywhere—'fueling passion,' 'fueling debate,' 'fueling speculation'—because both literal fuel and emotional momentum require constant input to keep going.
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