# inspire
## English
### Etymology

From Middle English inspiren, enspiren, from Old French inspirer, variant of espirer, from Latin īnspīrāre (“inspire”), itself a loan-translation of Biblical Ancient Greek πνέω (pnéō, “breathe”), from in + spīrō (“breathe”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)peys- (“to blow, breathe”). Displaced native Old English onbryrdan (literally “to prick in”).

### Pronunciation

* (General American) IPA: /ɪnˈspaɪɹ/
* (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /ɪnˈspaɪə(ɹ)/
* Rhymes: -aɪə(ɹ)
* Audio (Southern England):(file)

### Verb

inspire (third-person singular simple present inspires, present participle inspiring, simple past and past participle inspired)
* (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.
** 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Wisdom 15:11:He knew not his Maker, and him that inspired into him an active soul.
** c. 1588–1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):Dawning day new comfort hath inspired.
** 2012 March-April, Anna Lena Phillips, “Sneaky Silk Moths”, in American Scientist‎, volume 100, number 2, page 172:Last spring, the periodical cicadas emerged across eastern North America. Their vast numbers and short above-ground life spans inspired awe and irritation in humans—and made for good meals for birds and small mammals.
* (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.
    Elders should inspire children with sentiments of virtue.
    The captain's speech was aimed to inspire her team to victory in the final.
** 1697, Virgil, “The Seventh Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:Erato, thy poet's mind inspire, / And fill his soul with thy celestial fire.
* (intransitive) To draw in by the operation of breathing; to inhale.
** 1672, Gideon Harvey, Morbus Anglicus, Or, The Anatomy of Consumptions:By means of those sulfurous coal smokes the lungs are as it were stifled and extremely oppressed, whereby they are forced to inspire and expire the air with difficulty.
* To infuse by breathing, or as if by breathing.
* (archaic, transitive) To breathe into; to fill with the breath; to animate.
** 1687 (date written), Alexander Pope, “Ode for Musick on St. Cecilia’s Day”, in The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintot, […], →OCLC, canto I, page 371:Deſcend ye nine! deſcend and ſing; / The breathing inſtruments inſpire, / VVake into voice each ſilent ſtring, / And ſvveep the ſounding lyre!
* (transitive) To spread rumour indirectly.

#### Synonyms

* beghast

#### Antonyms

* (antonym(s) of “inhale”): expire

#### Derived terms

* awe-inspiring
* bio-inspired
* inspirable
* inspirer
* philatelically inspired
* reinspire

#### Related terms

* awe-inspire
* inspiration
* inspirational
* inspirator
* inspiratory

#### Translations

    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

### Anagrams

* spinier

## Asturian
### Verb

inspire
* first/third-person singular present subjunctive of inspirar

## French
### Pronunciation

* Audio:(file)

### Verb

inspire
* inflection of inspirer:
** first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive
** second-person singular imperative

## Portuguese
### Verb

inspire
* inflection of inspirar:
** first/third-person singular present subjunctive
** third-person singular imperative

## Romanian
### Pronunciation

* IPA: [inˈspire]

### Verb

inspire
* third-person singular/plural present subjunctive of inspira

## Spanish
### Verb

inspire
* inflection of inspirar:
** first/third-person singular present subjunctive
** third-person singular imperative