inspire
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ɪnˈspaɪə(ɹ)/
ipa: /ɪnˈspaɪɹ/
ipa: /ɪnˈspɑeə(ɹ)/
ipa: /ɪnˈspaɪə(ɹ)/
ipa: [ɪnˈspɑeə(ɹ)]
rhymes: -aɪə(ɹ)
Forms: form: inspires
form: inspiring
form: inspired
form: inspired
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”).
Senses: examples: text: He knew not his Maker, and him that inspired into him an active soul.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Wisdom 15:11:
text: Dawning day new comfort hath inspired.
ref: 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):
text: 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.
ref: 2012 March-April, Anna Lena Phillips, “Sneaky Silk Moths”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, archived from the original on 19 Feb 2013, page 172:
glosses: 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.
examples: text: Elders should inspire children with sentiments of virtue.
text: The captain's speech was aimed to inspire her team to victory in the final.
text: Erato, thy poet's mind inspire, / And fill his soul with thy celestial fire.
ref: 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:
glosses: To infuse into; to affect, as with a superior or supernatural influence; to fill with what animates, enlivens or exalts; to communicate inspiration to.
examples: text: 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.
ref: 1672, Gideon Harvey, Morbus Anglicus, Or, The Anatomy of Consumptions:
glosses: To draw in by the operation of breathing; to inhale.
glosses: To infuse by breathing, or as if by breathing.
examples: text: Deſcend ye nine! deſcend and ſing; / The breathing inſtruments inſpire, / VVake into voice each ſilent ſtring, / And ſvveep the ſounding lyre!
ref: 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:
glosses: To breathe into; to fill with the breath; to animate.
glosses: To spread rumour indirectly.
Synonyms: beghast
Derived terms: awe-inspiring
bio-inspired
inspirable
inspirer
inspirometer
misinspire
philatelically inspired
reinspire
uninspire
Related terms: awe-inspire
inspiration
inspirational
inspirator
inspiratory