Definitions for: Inspire


[v] draw in (air); "Inhale deeply"; "inhale the fresh mountain air"; "The patient has trouble inspiring"; "The lung cancer patient cannot inspire air very well"
[v] fill with revolutionary ideas
[v] serve as the inciting cause of; "She prompted me to call my relatives"
[v] urge on or encourage esp. by shouts; "The crowd cheered the demonstrating strikers"
[v] supply the inspiration for; "The article about the artist inspired the exhibition of his recent work"
[v] heighten or intensify; "These paintings exalt the imagination"



Webster (1913) Definition: In*spire", v. t. [OE. enspiren, OF. enspirer,
inspirer, F. inspirer, fr. L. inspirare; pref. in- in +
spirare to breathe. See Spirit.]
1. To breathe into; to fill with the breath; to animate.

When Zephirus eek, with his sweete breath,
Inspir[`e]d 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.


In*spire", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Inspired; p. pr. &
vb. n. Inspiring.]
1. To draw in breath; to inhale air into the lungs; --
opposed to expire.

2. To breathe; to blow gently. [Obs.]

And when the wind amongst them did inspire, They
wav[`e]d like a penon wide dispread. --Spenser.

Synonyms: animate, barrack, breathe in, cheer, enliven, exalt, exhort, inhale, instigate, invigorate, pep up, prompt, revolutionise, revolutionize, urge, urge on

Antonyms: breathe out, exhale, expire

See Also: aspirate, breathe, cause, cheerlead, drag, draw, encourage, encourage, excite, get, have, huff, indoctrinate, induce, make, occasion, puff, respire, shake, shake up, sniff, sniffle, snivel, snort, snuff, snuffle, stimulate, stimulate, stir, suspire, take a breath

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