inspire

• POS: Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: in=spire
• COUNT in NET: 1 in 1 verses (in OT : 1 in 1 verses)

CIDE DICTIONARY

inspire, v. t. [OE. enspiren, OF. enspirer, inspirer, F. inspirer, fr. L. inspirare; pref. in- in + spirare to breathe. See Spirit.].

•  To breathe into; to fill with the breath; to animate.  [1913 Webster]

  "When Zephirus eek, with his sweete breath,
  Inspirèd hath in every holt and heath
  The tender crops."  [1913 Webster]

  "Descend, ye Nine, descend and sing,
  The breathing instruments inspire."  [1913 Webster]
•  To infuse by breathing, or as if by breathing.  [1913 Webster]

  "He knew not his Maker, and him that inspired into him an active soul."  [1913 Webster]
•  To draw in by the operation of breathing; to inhale; -- opposed to expire.  [1913 Webster]

  "Forced to inspire and expire the air with difficulty."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "And generous stout courage did inspire."  [1913 Webster]

  "But dawning day new comfort hath inspired."  [1913 Webster]
•  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]

  "Erato, thy poet's mind inspire,
  And fill his soul with thy celestial fire."  [1913 Webster]

inspire, v. i. 

•  To draw in breath; to inhale air into the lungs; -- opposed to expire.  [1913 Webster]
•  To breathe; to blow gently.  [1913 Webster]

  "And when the wind amongst them did inspire,
  They wavèd like a penon wide dispread."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

inspire, v.tr.
1 stimulate or arouse (a person) to esp. creative activity, esp. by supposed divine or supernatural agency (your faith inspired him; inspired by God).
2 a (usu. foll. by with) animate (a person) with a feeling. b (usu. foll. by into) instil (a feeling) into a person etc. c (usu. foll. by in) create (a feeling) in a person.
3 prompt; give rise to (the poem was inspired by the autumn).
4 (as inspired adj.) a (of a work of art etc.) as if prompted by or emanating from a supernatural source; characterized by inspiration (an inspired speech). b (of a guess) intuitive but accurate.
5 (also absol.) breathe in (air etc.); inhale.

Derivative

inspiratory adj. inspiredly adv. inspirer n. inspiring adj. inspiringly adv.

Etymology

ME f. OF inspirer f. L inspirare breathe in (as IN-(2), spirare breathe)

THESAURUS

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

ROGET THESAURUS

inspire

Motive

VB induce, move, draw, draw on, bring in its train, give an impulse, to, inspire, put up to, prompt, call up, attract, beckon, stimulate, spirit up, inspirit, rouse, arouse, animate, incite, foment, provoke, instigate, set on, actuate, act upon, work upon, operate upon, encourage, pat on the back, pat on the shoulder, clap on the back, clap on the shoulder, influence, weigh with, bias, sway, incline, dispose, predispose, turn the scale, inoculate, lead by the nose, have influence with, have influence over, have influence upon, exercise influence with, exercise influence over, exercise influence upon, go round, come round one, turn the head, magnetize, lobby, persuade, prevail with, prevail upon, overcome, carry, bring round to one's senses, bring to one's senses, draw over, win over, gain over, come over, talk over, procure, enlist, engage, invite, court, tempt, seduce, overpersuade, entice, allure, captivate, fascinate, bewitch, carry away, charm, conciliate, wheedle, coax, lure, inveigle, tantalize, cajole, tamper with, bribe, suborn, grease the palm, bait with a silver hook, gild the pill, make things pleasant, put a sop into the pan, throw a sop to, bait the hook, enforce, force, impel, propel, whip, lash, goad, spur, prick, urge, egg on, hound, hurry on, drag, exhort, advise, call upon, press, advocate, set an example, set the fashion, keep in countenance, be persuaded, yield to temptation, come round, concede, obey a call, follow advice, follow the bent, follow the dictates of, act on principle.

Excitation

VB excite, affect, touch, move, impress, strike, interest, animate, inspire, impassion, smite, infect, stir the blood, fire the blood, warm the blood, set astir, wake, awake, awaken, call forth, evoke, provoke, raise up, summon up, call up, wake up, blow up, get up, light up, raise, get up the steam, rouse, arouse, stir, fire, kindle, enkindle, apply the torch, set on fire, inflame, stimulate, exsuscitate, inspirit, spirit up, stir up, work up, pique, infuse life into, give new life to, bring new blood, introduce new blood, quicken, sharpen, whet, work upon, hurry on, give a fillip, put on one's mettle, fan the fire, fan the flame, blow the coals, stir the embers, fan into a flame, foster, heat, warm, foment, raise to a fever heat, keep up, keep the pot boiling, revive, rekindle, rake up, rip up, stir the feelings, play on the feelings, come home to the feelings, touch a string, touch a chord, touch the soul, touch the heart, go to one's heart, penetrate, pierce, go through one, touch to the quick, possess the soul, pervade the soul, penetrate the soul, imbrue the soul, absorb the soul, affect the soul, disturb the soul, absorb, rivet the attention, sink into the mind, sink into the heart, prey on the mind, distract, intoxicate, overwhelm, overpower, bouleverser, upset, turn one's head, fascinate, enrapture, agitate, perturb, ruffle, fluster, shake, disturb, startle, shock, stagger, give one a shock, give one a turn, strike all of a heap, stun, astound, electrify, galvanize, petrify, irritate, sting, cut to the heart, cut to the quick, try one's temper, fool to the top of one's bent, pique, infuriate, madden, make one's blood boil, lash into fury, be excited, flush up, flare up, catch the infection, thrill, mantle, work oneself up, seethe, boil, simmer, foam, fume, flame, rage, rave, run mad.

Cheerfulness

VB be cheerful, have the mind at ease, smile, put a good face upon, keep up one's spirits, view the bright side of the picture, view things en couleur de rose, ridentem dicere virum, cheer up, brighten up, light up, bear up, chirp, take heart, cast away care, drive dull care away, perk up, keep a stiff upper lip, rejoice, carol, chirrup, lilt, frisk, rollick, give a loose to mirth, cheer, enliven, elate, exhilarate, gladden, inspirit, animate, raise the spirits, inspire, perk up, put in good humor, cheer the heart, rejoice the heart, delight.

Piety

VB be pious, have faith, believe, receive Christ, revere, be converted, convert, edify, sanctify, keep holy, beatify, regenerate, inspire, consecrate, enshrine.