Lexic.us

Definition of Inspire

1. Verb. Heighten or intensify. "The performance is likely to inspire Sue"; "These paintings exalt the imagination"

2. Verb. Supply the inspiration for. "The article about the artist inspired the exhibition of his recent work"

3. Verb. Serve as the inciting cause of. "They inspire him to write the letter"; "She prompted me to call my relatives"

4. Verb. Spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts. "They inspire him to write the letter"; "The crowd cheered the demonstrating strikers"

5. Verb. Fill with revolutionary ideas.

6. Verb. Draw in (air). "The lung cancer patient cannot inspire air very well"

Definition of Inspire

1. v. t. To breathe into; to fill with the breath; to animate.

2. v. i. To draw in breath; to inhale air into the lungs; -- opposed to expire.

Definition of Inspire

1. Verb. (transitive) To infuse into the mind; to communicate to the spirit; to convey, as by a divine or supernatural influence; to disclose preternaturally; to produce in, as by inspiration. ¹

2. Verb. (transitive) To infuse into; to affect, as with a superior or supernatural influence; to fill with what animates, enlivens or exalts; to communicate inspiration to. ¹

3. Verb. (intransitive) To draw in by the operation of breathing; to inhale. ¹

4. Verb. To infuse by breathing, or as if by breathing. ¹

5. Verb. (archaic) (transitive) To breathe into; to fill with the breath; to animate. ¹

6. Verb. (transitive) To spread rumour indirectly. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Inspire

1. to animate the mind or emotions of [v -SPIRED, -SPIRING, -SPIRES]

Medical Definition of Inspire

1. 1. To breathe into; to fill with the breath; to animate. "When Zephirus eek, with his sweete breath, Inspired hath in every holt and health The tender crops." (Chaucer) "Descend, ye Nine, descend and sing, The breathing instruments inspire." (Pope) 2. To infuse by breathing, or as if by breathing. "He knew not his Maker, and him that inspired into him an active soul." (Wisdom xv. 11) 3. To draw in by the operation of breathing; to inhale; opposed to expire. "Forced to inspire and expire the air with difficulty." (Harvey) 4. To infuse into the mind; to communicate to the spirit; to convey, as by a divine or supernatural influence; to disclose preternaturally; to produce in, as by inspiration. "And generous stout courage did inspire." (Spenser) "But dawning day new comfort hath inspired." (Shak) 5. To infuse into; to affect, as with a superior or supernatural influence; to fill with what animates, enlivens, or exalts; to communicate inspiration to; as, to inspire a child with sentiments of virtue. "Erato, thy poet's mind inspire, And fill his soul with thy celestial fire." (Dryden) Origin: OE. Enspiren, OF. Enspirer, inspirer, F. Inspirer, fr. L. Inspirare; pref. In- in + spirare to breathe. See Spirit. 1. To draw in breath; to inhale air into the lungs; opposed to expire. 2. To breathe; to blow gently. "And when the wind amongst them did inspire, They waved like a penon wide dispread." (Spenser) Origin: Inspired; Inspiring. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Inspire

inspiration inspirational inspirationally inspirationist inspirationists inspirations inspirator inspirators inspiratory inspiratory capacity

inspiratory centre inspiratory reserve volume inspiratory stridor inspiratrices inspiratrix inspire (current term) inspired inspired gas inspiredly inspirer

inspirers inspires inspirest inspireth inspiring inspiringly inspirit inspirited inspiriting inspiritingly

Literary usage of Inspire

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms by Frederic Sturges Allen (1920)
"See SUGGESTION. inspire, vt 1. See INHALE, EXCITE, SUGGEST. 2. ... incite. instill: introduce, inspire. instinct, n.: faculty instinctive: innate. ..."

2. The Spectator by Joseph Addison, Richard Steele (1830)
"This exercise would soon strengthen his judgment in what is blame- able or praiseworthy, and give him an early seasoning of morality. he would inspire me ..."

3. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon (1887)
"In an age of religious fervour the most artful statesmen are observed to feel some part oí the enthusiasm which they inspire; and the most orthodox saints ..."

4. The Confessions of Jean Jacques Rousseau by Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1901)
"It appeared delightful to me to inspire them with a confidence which 1 took care never to abuse, wishing them to love me freely. When a person has any real ..."

5. The Library of Literary Criticism of English and American Authors by Charles Wells Moulton (1904)
"positive school to inspire entire confidence, especially as it is a cardinal doctrine of this school that philosophical speculation is vain and profitless. ..."

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