inspire Meaning, Definition & Usage
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verb heighten or intensify
invigorate; enliven; animate; exalt.
- These paintings exalt the imagination
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verb supply the inspiration for
- The article about the artist inspired the exhibition of his recent work
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verb serve as the inciting cause of
prompt; instigate.
- She prompted me to call my relatives
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verb spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts
urge; exhort; barrack; cheer; urge on; root on; pep up.
- The crowd cheered the demonstrating strikers
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verb fill with revolutionary ideas
revolutionize; revolutionise.
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verb draw in (air)
breathe in; inhale.
- Inhale deeply
- inhale the fresh mountain air
- The patient has trouble inspiring
- The lung cancer patient cannot inspire air very well
WordNet
In*spire" transitive verb
Etymology
OE.Definitions
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To breathe into; to fill with the breath; to animate. When Zephirus eek, with his sweete breath, Inspirèd hath in every holt and health The tender crops. Chaucer.
Descend, ye Nine, descend and sing, The breathing instruments inspire. Pope.
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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.
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To draw in by the operation of breathing; to inhale; -- opposed to expire. Forced to inspire and expire the air with difficulty. Harvey.
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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.
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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 virtueErato, thy poet's mind inspire, And fill his soul with thy celestial fire. Dryden.
In*spire" intransitive verb
Wordforms
Definitions
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To draw in breath; to inhale air into the lungs; -- opposed to expire. -
To breathe; to blow gently. Obs.And when the wind amongst them did inspire, They wavèd like a penon wide dispread. Spenser.