1 a
: a divine influence or action on a person believed to qualify him or
her to receive and communicate sacred revelation b : the action or power of moving the intellect
or emotions
c : the act of influencing or suggesting opinions
2 : the act of drawing in; specifically
: the drawing of air into the lungs
3 a : the quality or state of being inspired
b : something that is inspired <a scheme that was pure inspiration>
4 : an inspiring agent or influence
— in•spi•ra•tion•al
\adjective
— in•spi•ra•tion•al•ly adverb
in•spi•ra•tor \\ noun
(1624)
: one that inspires <teachers who are inspirators of the young>
in•spi•ra•to•ry \adjective
(1773)
: of, relating to, used for, or associated with inspiration
in•spire \in-'spir\ verb
in•spired; in•spir•ing [Middle English, from Middle French
& Latin; Middle French inspirer, from Latin inspirare, from in- +
spirare to breathe](14th
century)
transitive verb
1a : 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
inspired adjective (15th century) : outstanding or brilliant in a way or
to a degree suggestive of divine inspiration <gave an inspired performance>
inspiring adjective (1717)
: having an animating or exalting effect
in•spir•it \ transitive
verb (15th century) : to fill with spirit
synonymy see encourage
— in•spir•it•ing•ly \ adverb
Merriam-Webster, I. (1996, c1993). Merriam-Webster's
collegiate dictionary. Includes index. (10th ed.). Springfield, Mass.,
U.S.A.: Merriam-Webster.