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4 definitions found
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Inspire \In*spire"\ ([i^]n*sp[imac]r"), verb (used with an object) [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 heath 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; to inspire a person to do extraordinary feats. [1913 Webster +PJC]
Erato, thy poet's mind inspire, And fill his soul with thy celestial fire. --Dryden.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Inspire \In*spire"\, verb (used without an object) [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.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
inspire
verb
1: heighten or intensify; "These paintings exalt the imagination" [syn: {animate}, {invigorate}, {enliven}, {exalt}]
2: supply the inspiration for; "The article about the artist inspired the exhibition of his recent work"
3: serve as the inciting cause of; "She prompted me to call my relatives" [syn: {prompt}, {instigate}]
4: urge on or encourage especially by shouts; "The crowd cheered the demonstrating strikers" [syn: {cheer}, {urge}, {barrack}, {urge on}, {exhort}, {pep up}]
5: fill with revolutionary ideas [syn: {revolutionize}, {revolutionise}]
6: draw in (air); "Inhale deeply"; "inhale the fresh mountain air"; "The patient has trouble inspiring"; "The lung cancer patient cannot inspire air very well" [syn: {inhale}, {breathe in}] [ant: {exhale}]
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
142 Moby Thesaurus words for "inspire": activate, actuate, affect, affirm, afford hope, animate, arouse, aspirate, assure, augur well, awaken, bid fair, blow, bolster, boost, brace up, breathe, breathe hard, breathe in, breathe out, brighten, bring, bring about, bring on, buck up, buoy up, buttress, call forth, call up, carry, cause, cheer, confirm, contrive, cough, draw down, draw in, draw on, effect, elicit, embolden, embue, encourage, endow, endue, energize, enliven, evoke, exalt, excite, exhale, exhaust, exhilarate, expel, expire, fire, fortify, galvanize, gasp, get, give a lift, give hope, gladden, gulp, hack, have good prospects, hearten, hiccup, hold out hope, hold out promise, huff, imbue, impress, induce, infect, influence, inform, infuse, inhale, inject, inoculate, inspire hope, inspirit, instigate, invigorate, justify hope, kindle, lead, liven, make fair promise, motivate, move, muster up, nerve, obtain, pant, pick up, procure, promise, prompt, provoke, puff, quicken, raise expectations, raise hope, rally, reassure, reinforce, rejoice, rejoice the heart, respire, rouse, set up, sigh, slurp, sneeze, sniff, sniffle, snore, snort, snuff, snuff in, snuffle, spirit, spirit up, stimulate, stir, strengthen, strike, suck, suck in, suckle, summon up, superinduce, support, sway, touch, uplift, vitalize, vivify, waken, wheeze
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Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. Audio provided by one of our generous visitors. - KM |