Inspire — Defs

01 v. t. To breathe into; to fill with the breath; to animate.

1.
To breathe into; to fill with the breath; to animate.
“When Zephirus eek, with his sweete breath, Inspirèd hath in every holt and heath The tender crops.” — Chaucer.

“Descend, ye Nine, descend and sing, The breathing instruments inspire.” — Pope.
2.
To infuse by breathing, or as if by breathing.
“He knew not his Maker, and him that inspired into him an active soul.” — Wisdom xv. 11.
3.
To draw in by the operation of breathing; to inhale; -- opposed to expire.
“Forced to inspire and expire the air with difficulty.” — Harvey.
4.
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.
“And generous stout courage did inspire.” — Spenser.

“But dawning day new comfort hath inspired.” — Shak.
5.
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.
“Erato, thy poet's mind inspire, And fill his soul with thy celestial fire.” — Dryden.

02 v. i. To draw in breath; to inhale air into the lungs; -- opposed to expire.

imp. & p. p. Inspired; p. pr. & vb. n. Inspiring

1.
To draw in breath; to inhale air into the lungs; -- opposed to expire.
2.
To breathe; to blow gently.[Obs.]
“And when the wind amongst them did inspire, They wavèd like a penon wide dispread.” — Spenser.