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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary in·spire (in·spired ; in·spir·ing) ETYMOLOGY Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French inspirer, from Latin inspirare, from in- + spirare to breathe DATE 14th century transitive verb 1. a. to influence, move, or guide by divine or supernatural inspiration b. to exert an animating, enlivening, or exalting influence on was particularly inspired by the Romanticists c. to spur on : impel , motivate threats don't necessarily inspire people to work d. affect seeing the old room again inspired him with nostalgia 2. a. archaic : to breathe or blow into or upon b. archaic : to infuse (as life) by breathing 3. a. to communicate to an agent supernaturally b. to draw forth or bring out thoughts inspired by a visit to the cathedral 4. inhale 15. a. bring about, occasion the book was inspired by his travels in the Far East b. incite 6. to spread (rumor) by indirect means or through the agency of another intransitive verb : inhale • in·spir·er noun English Etymology inspire mid-14c., from O.Fr . enspirer (12c.), from L. inspirare (see inspiration), a loan-translation of Gk. pnein in the Bible. General sense of "influence or animate with an idea or purpose" is from late 14c.http://O.Fr Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 inspire in·spire / in5spaiE(r) / verb1. ~ sb (to sth) to give sb the desire, confidence or enthusiasm to do sth well 激励；鼓舞: ▪ [VN] The actors inspired the kids with their enthusiasm. 演员以热情鼓舞着孩子们。 The actors' enthusiasm inspired the kids. 演员们的热情鼓舞着孩子们。 His superb play inspired the team to a thrilling 5–0 win. 他的出色表现使球队士气大振,以 5:0 大获全胜。 ▪ [VN to inf] By visiting schools, the actors hope to inspire children to put on their own productions. 演员希望通过访问学校鼓励孩子们演出自己的作品。 2. [VN] [usually passive] to give sb the idea for sth, especially sth artistic or that shows imagination 赋予灵感；引起联想；启发思考: The choice of decor was inspired by a trip to India. 选用这种装饰格调是从一次印度之行中得到的启发。 3. [VN] ~ sb (with sth) | ~ sth (in sb) to make sb have a particular feeling or emotion 使产生(感觉或情感): Her work didn't exactly inspire me with confidence. 她的工作并没有真正地使我产生信心。 As a general, he inspired great loyalty in his troops. 作为一位将军,他得到了部队的精诚效忠。 Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus-11th Edition v. Function: verb 1 Synonyms: INHALE , breathe (in) Antonyms: expire 2 Synonyms: FIRE 2, animate, exalt, inform Related Words: quicken, stimulate; infect, infuse; endow, endue 3 Synonyms: ELATE , commove, excite, exhilarate, set up, spirit (up), stimulate 4 Synonyms: AFFECT , carry, get, impress, influence, move, strike, sway, touchWebster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged in·spire \ə̇nzˈpī(ə)r, ə̇nˈsp-, -īə\ verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle English inspiren, enspiren, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French inspirer, enspirer, from Old French, from Latin inspirare, from in- in- (II) + spirare to breathe — more at spirit transitive verb 1. a. archaic : to breathe or blow into or upon b. archaic : to infuse (as life) by breathing < inspired into him an active soul — Wisd Sol 15:11 > c. obsolete : to breathe or blow (as air or vapor) into or upon something 2. : to draw in by breathing : breathe in : inhale < inspiring the crisp fall air > < the baby will inspire the mucus down into its lungs — Fire Manual (Massachusetts) > < be accomplished by increasing the oxygen percentage in the inspired air — H.G.Armstrong > — distinguished from expire 3. a. : to influence, move, or guide (as to speech or action) through divine or supernatural agency or power < the gods were believed to inspire the oracles > < spoke like a prophet inspired from above > b. : to have an animating, enlivening, or exalting effect upon especially in a degree or with a result suggestive of the workings of some extraordinary power or influence < had been inspired by his mother > < our ability to inspire the plodder — Ellie Tucker > < Milton and Shakespeare inspire the active life of England … through exceptional individuals — W.B.Yeats > < books that have inspired countless generations > — often used with with; specifically : to stimulate to creative activity in an art c. : encourage , impel , motivate — usually used with to < inspired them to greater efforts > < a success which inspired him to broaden his activities > d. : affect — usually used with with < experiences that inspired him with a yearning for education > < poverty that inspires the beholder with pity and disgust > 4. a. : to communicate or impart (as an utterance) to an agent through divine or supernatural power < spoke in words inspired by God > b. : to infuse or introduce into the mind or communicate to the spirit < a steadfastness that inspired confidence in his followers > < conduct that inspires nothing but disgust > : arouse , provoke 5. a. : to bring about : occasion , produce < events that inspired a new fashion > < studies that inspired several inventions > < hoping that improvement in business would inspire a tax cut > < the attacks inspired the passing of stringent food and drug regulations — E.S.Turner > b. : incite , foment < communist-inspired riots > 6. : to cause to be said or written by influence and without acknowledgment of actual source or authorship < a rumor that had been inspired by interested parties > intransitive verb 1. : to impart inspiration 2. obsolete : breathe , blow 3. : to draw in breath : inhale air into the lungs < inspired deeply from a small bottle he had taken from his pocket — E.C.Bentley > |
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