-ād.əs, -ātəs noun
( -es )
Etymology: Latin afflatus, literally, act of blowing or breathing on, from afflatus, past. participle of afflare to blow on, from ad- + flare to blow — more at blow
: a divine imparting of knowledge or power : supernatural or overmastering impulse : inspiration
we imagine that a great speech is caused by some mysterious afflatus that descends into a man from on high — Max Eastman