ɪnˈspaɪə 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. øøinspiratory adj. inspiredly adv. inspirer n. inspiring adj. inspiringly adv. [ME f. OF inspirer f. L inspirare breathe in (as
IN-(2), spirare breathe)]