a. Capable of being inspired or drawn into the lungs; inhalable; respirable; admitting inspiration. Harvey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. inspiration, L. inspiratio. See Inspire. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act of inspiring or breathing in; breath; specif. (Physiol.), the drawing of air into the lungs, accomplished in mammals by elevation of the chest walls and flattening of the diaphragm; -- the opposite of expiration. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act or power of exercising an elevating or stimulating influence upon the intellect or emotions; the result of such influence which quickens or stimulates; as, the inspiration of occasion, of art, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Your father was ever virtuous, and holy men at their death have good inspirations. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Theol.) A supernatural divine influence on the prophets, apostles, or sacred writers, by which they were qualified to communicate moral or religious truth with authority; a supernatural influence which qualifies men to receive and communicate divine truth; also, the truth communicated. [ 1913 Webster ]

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. 2 Tim. iii. 16. [ 1913 Webster ]

The age which we now live in is not an age of inspiration and impulses. Sharp. [ 1913 Webster ]

Plenary inspiration (Theol.), that kind of inspiration which excludes all defect in the utterance of the inspired message. --
Verbal inspiration (Theol.), that kind of inspiration which extends to the very words and forms of expression of the divine message. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Pertaining to inspiration. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Imparting inspiration{ 2 }; as, an inspirational sermon. [ PJC ]

n. One who holds to inspiration. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Mach.) A kind of injector for forcing water by steam. See Injector, n., 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to, or aiding, inspiration; as, the inspiratory muscles. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ OE. enspiren, OF. enspirer, inspirer, F. inspirer, fr. L. inspirare; pref. in- in + spirare to breathe. See Spirit. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To breathe into; to fill with the breath; to animate. [ 1913 Webster ]

When Zephirus eek, with his sweete breath,
Inspirèd hath in every holt and heath
The tender crops. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Descend, ye Nine, descend and sing,
The breathing instruments inspire. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To infuse by breathing, or as if by breathing. [ 1913 Webster ]

He knew not his Maker, and him that inspired into him an active soul. Wisdom xv. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To draw in by the operation of breathing; to inhale; -- opposed to expire. [ 1913 Webster ]

Forced to inspire and expire the air with difficulty. Harvey. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

And generous stout courage did inspire. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

But dawning day new comfort hath inspired. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

Erato, thy poet's mind inspire,
And fill his soul with thy celestial fire. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Inspired; p. pr. & vb. n. Inspiring. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To draw in breath; to inhale air into the lungs; -- opposed to expire. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To breathe; to blow gently. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

And when the wind amongst them did inspire,
They wavèd like a penon wide dispread. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Breathed in; inhaled. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Moved or animated by, or as by, a supernatural influence; affected by divine inspiration; as, the inspired prophets; the inspired writers. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Communicated or given as by supernatural or divine inspiration; having divine authority; hence, sacred, holy; -- opposed to uninspired, profane, or secular; as, the inspired writings, that is, the Scriptures. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Moved to a higher level of thought, creativity, or motivation. [ PJC ]

n. One who, or that which, inspires. “Inspirer of that holy flame.” Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]