inspire

      See also inspiré

      English

      Etymology

      From Old French enspirer, from Latin īnspīrāre, present active infinitive of īnspīrō (“inspire”), itself a loan-translation of the Ancient Greek πνέω (pneō, “breathe”) in the Bible, from in + spīrō (“breathe”).

      Pronunciation

      Verb

      inspire (third-person singular simple present inspires, present participle inspiring, simple past and past participle inspired)

      1. (transitive)  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.
        • 2012 March-April, Anna Lena Phillips, “Sneaky Silk Moths”, American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, page 172: 
          Last spring, the periodical cicadas emerged across eastern North America. Their vast numbers and short above-ground life spans inspired awe and irritation in humans—and made for good meals for birds and small mammals.
      2. (transitive)  To infuse into; to affect, as with a superior or supernatural influence; to fill with what animates, enlivens or exalts; to communicate inspiration to.
        Elders should inspire children with sentiments of virtue.
      3. (intransitive)  To draw in by the operation of breathing; to inhale.
      4. To infuse by breathing, or as if by breathing.
      5. (archaic, transitive)  To breathe into; to fill with the breath; to animate.
      6. (transitive)  To spread rumour indirectly.

      Synonyms

      Antonyms

      Derived terms

      Related terms

      Translations

      to infuse into the mind; to communicate to the spirit
      to infuse into; to affect, as with a superior or supernatural influence
      to inhale — see inhale
      to infuse by breathing, or as if by breathing
      archaic: to breathe into; to fill with the breath; to animate
      The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
      Translations to be checked

      Anagrams

      ↑Jump back a section

      French

      Verb

      inspire

      1. first-person singular present indicative of inspirer
      2. third-person singular present indicative of inspirer
      3. first-person singular present subjunctive of inspirer
      4. third-person singular present subjunctive of inspirer
      5. second-person singular imperative of inspirer
      ↑Jump back a section

      Portuguese

      Verb

      inspire

      1. First-person singular (eu) present subjunctive of inspirar
      2. Third-person singular (ele, ela, also used with tu and você?) present subjunctive of inspirar
      3. Third-person singular (você) affirmative imperative of inspirar
      4. Third-person singular (você) negative imperative of inspirar
      ↑Jump back a section

      Spanish

      Verb

      inspire (infinitive inspirar)

      1. First-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of inspirar.
      2. Formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of inspirar.
      3. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted?) present subjunctive form of inspirar.
      4. Formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of inspirar.
      ↑Jump back a section
      Last modified on 6 June 2013, at 17:31