inspiration
[in-spuh-rey-shuh n]
- an inspiring or animating action or influence: I cannot write poetry without inspiration.
- something inspired, as an idea.
- a result of inspired activity.
- a thing or person that inspires.
- Theology.
- a divine influence directly and immediately exerted upon the mind or soul.
- the divine quality of the writings or words of a person so influenced.
- the drawing of air into the lungs; inhalation.
- the act of inspiring; quality or state of being inspired.
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Origin of inspiration
Synonyms
See more synonyms for inspiration on Thesaurus.com1. stimulus, incitement.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for inspiration
Contemporary Examples
In this way, inspiration becomes appropriation, which leads directly to theft and erasure.
But inspiration and faith-based agenda in movies does not guarantee box office success.
Are You There, God? It’s Nicolas Cage and the Year in Cinematically Pimped ReligionMatthew Paul Turner
December 28, 2014
Hockney is also refreshingly genuine when it comes to revealing another source of inspiration—other artists.
In fact, new technologies—copiers, fax machines, and recently the iPad—were significant sources of inspiration for him.
Though it may have been a depressing environment, the gritty streets of Washington gave Gil plenty of inspiration for his lyrics.
‘The Prince of Chocolate City’: When Gil Scott-Heron Became A Music IconMarcus Baram
November 15, 2014
Historical Examples
In the instant of reply, Dick Gilder, by some inspiration of love, changed his attitude.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
A combination of crocuses and snow on the ground had given her an inspiration for a gown.
KMary Roberts Rinehart
But at that moment an inspiration came to lighten the gloom.
The Bacillus of BeautyHarriet Stark
Like an inspiration it came to the girl what had affected her so disagreeably in Crane—it was his eyes.
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
Every way I look I can see a golden-flame tongue of inspiration burning.
Her Father's DaughterGene Stratton-Porter
inspiration
- stimulation or arousal of the mind, feelings, etc, to special or unusual activity or creativity
- the state or quality of being so stimulated or aroused
- someone or something that causes this state
- an idea or action resulting from such a state
- the act or process of inhaling; breathing in
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for inspiration
n.
c.1300, "immediate influence of God or a god," especially that under which the holy books were written, from Old French inspiracion "inhaling, breathing in; inspiration," from Late Latin inspirationem (nominative inspiratio), noun of action from past participle stem of Latin inspirare "inspire, inflame, blow into," from in- "in" (see in- (2)) + spirare "to breathe" (see spirit). Literal sense "act of inhaling" attested in English from 1560s. Meaning "one who inspires others" is attested by 1867.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
inspiration
(ĭn′spə-rā′shən)- The inhalation of air into the lungs.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
inspiration
[ĭn′spə-rā′shən]
- See inhalation.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.