v.
Pronunciation: in- ' sp ī (- ə )r
Function: verb
Inflected Form: in · spired ; in · spir · ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French inspirer, from Latin inspirare, from in- + spirare to breathe
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1 a : to influence, move, or guide by divine or supernatural inspiration b : to exert an animating, enlivening, or exalting influence on <was particularly inspired by the Romanticists> c : to spur on : IMPEL , MOTIVATE <threats don't necessarily inspire people to work> d : AFFECT <seeing the old room again inspired him with nostalgia>
2 a archaic : to breathe or blow into or upon b archaic : to infuse (as life) by breathing
3 a : to communicate to an agent supernaturally b : to draw forth or bring out <thoughts inspired by a visit to the cathedral>
4 : INHALE 1
5 a : BRING ABOUT , OCCASION <the book was inspired by his travels in the Far East> b : INCITE
6 : to spread (rumor) by indirect means or through the agency of another
intransitive verb : INHALE
– in · spir · er noun