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inspired

[in-spahyuh rd]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR inspired ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

aroused, animated, or imbued with the spirit to do something, by or as if by supernatural or divine influence: an inspired poet.
resulting from such inspiration: an inspired poem; an inspired plan.
inhaled: inspired air.

Origin of inspired

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at inspire, -ed2
Related formsin·spir·ed·ly [in-spahy-rid-lee, -spahyuh rd-] /ɪnˈspaɪ rɪd li, -ˈspaɪərd-/, adverb

inspire

[in-spahyuh r]

verb (used with object), in·spired, in·spir·ing.

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.
Archaic.
  1. to infuse (breath, life, etc.) by breathing (usually followed by into).
  2. to breathe into or upon.

verb (used without object), in·spired, in·spir·ing.

to give inspiration.
to inhale.

Origin of inspire

1300–50; Middle English inspiren < Latin inspīrāre to breathe upon or into, equivalent to in- in-2 + spīrāre to breathe
Related formsin·spir·a·tive [in-spahyuh r-uh-tiv, in-spi-rey-tiv] /ɪnˈspaɪər ə tɪv, ˈɪn spɪˌreɪ tɪv/, adjectivein·spir·er, nounin·spir·ing·ly, adverbpre·in·spire, verb (used with object), pre·in·spired, pre·in·spir·ing.pseu·do·in·spir·ing, adjectivere·in·spire, verb, re·in·spired, re·in·spir·ing.un·in·spir·ing, adjectiveun·in·spir·ing·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for inspired

influenced, moved, animated, excited, encouraged, stirred, activated, galvanized, inspirited, roused, fired, exalted, possessed, transported, touched, divine, guided, uplifted, ecstatic

Examples from the Web for inspired

Contemporary Examples of inspired

Historical Examples of inspired

  • Though younger than myself, she reciprocated the love she had inspired.

    Philothea

    Lydia Maria Child

  • They inspired me with a renewed confidence in our political future.

    'Tis Sixty Years Since

    Charles Francis Adams

  • He suspected that the chief emotions he inspired were curiosity and mischievousness.

  • I want you to know that it was you who inspired Sunday Weeks, if any one did.

  • Do you suppose I believed for a moment those delays were not inspired?

    The Leopard Woman

    Stewart Edward White

British Dictionary definitions for inspired

inspired

adjective

aroused or guided by or as if aroused or guided by divine inspirationan inspired performance; she was like one inspired
extremely accurate or apt but based on intuition rather than knowledge or logical deductionan inspired guess

inspire

verb

to exert a stimulating or beneficial effect upon (a person); animate or invigorate
(tr; foll by with or to; may take an infinitive) to arouse (with a particular emotion or to a particular action); stir
(tr) to prompt or instigate; give rise toher beauty inspired his love
(tr; often passive) to guide or arouse by divine influence or inspiration
to take or draw (air, gas, etc) into the lungs; inhale
(tr) archaic
  1. to breathe into or upon
  2. to breathe life into
Derived Formsinspirable, adjectiveinspirative, adjectiveinspirer, nouninspiringly, adverb

Word Origin for inspire

C14 (in the sense: to breathe upon, blow into): from Latin inspīrāre, from spīrāre to breathe
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 inspired

inspire

v.

mid-14c., enspiren, "to fill (the mind, heart, etc., with grace, etc.);" also "to prompt or induce (someone to do something)," from Old French enspirer (13c.), from Latin inspirare "inflame; blow into" (see inspiration), a loan-translation of Greek pnein in the Bible. General sense of "influence or animate with an idea or purpose" is from late 14c. Also sometimes used in literal sense in Middle English Related: Inspired; inspires; inspiring.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
inspired in Medicine

inspire

[ĭn-spīr′]

v.

To draw in breath; to inhale.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.