in•spire
Pronunciation: (in-spīr'), [key]
— v., -spired, -spir•ing.
—v.t.
- to fill with an animating, quickening, or exalting influence: His courage inspired his followers.
- to produce or arouse (a feeling, thought, etc.): to inspire confidence in others.
- to fill or affect with a specified feeling, thought, etc.: to inspire a person with distrust.
- to influence or impel: Competition inspired her to greater efforts.
- to animate, as an influence, feeling, thought, or the like, does: They were inspired by a belief in a better future.
- to communicate or suggest by a divine or supernatural influence: writings inspired by God.
- to guide or control by divine influence.
- to prompt or instigate (utterances, acts, etc.) by influence, without avowal of responsibility.
- to give rise to, bring about, cause, etc.: a philosophy that inspired a revolution.
- to take (air, gases, etc.) into the lungs in breathing; inhale.
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- to infuse (breath, life, etc.) by breathing (usually fol. by into).
- to breathe into or upon.
—v.i.
- to give inspiration.
- to inhale.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.