Reference.com

27 results for: Inspire

Dictionary Entries (12 more entries. View all »)
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source
in·spire    Audio Help   [in-spahyuhr] Pronunciation Key verb, -spired, -spir·ing.
–verb (used with object)
1.to fill with an animating, quickening, or exalting influence: His courage inspired his followers.
2.to produce or arouse (a feeling, thought, etc.): to inspire confidence in others.
3.to fill or affect with a specified feeling, thought, etc.: to inspire a person with distrust.
4.to influence or impel: Competition inspired her to greater efforts.
5.to animate, as an influence, feeling, thought, or the like, does: They were inspired by a belief in a better future.
6.to communicate or suggest by a divine or supernatural influence: writings inspired by God.
7.to guide or control by divine influence.
8.to prompt or instigate (utterances, acts, etc.) by influence, without avowal of responsibility.
9.to give rise to, bring about, cause, etc.: a philosophy that inspired a revolution.
10.to take (air, gases, etc.) into the lungs in breathing; inhale.
11.Archaic.
a.to infuse (breath, life, etc.) by breathing (usually fol. by into).
b.to breathe into or upon.
–verb (used without object)
12.to give inspiration.
13.to inhale.
[Origin: 1300–50; ME inspiren < L inspīrāre to breathe upon or into, equiv. to in- in-2 + spīrāre to breathe]

—Related forms
in·spir·a·tive    Audio Help   [in-spahyuhr-uh-tiv, in-spi-rey-tiv] Pronunciation Key, adjective
in·spir·er, noun
in·spir·ing·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Thesaurus Entries (2 more entries. View all »)
  Roget's II: The New Thesaurus - Cite This Source
Main Entry:  breathe
Part of Speech:  verb
Definition:  To draw air into the lungs in the process of respiration.
Synonyms:  inhale
Source:  Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition
by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary.
Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

  Roget's II: The New Thesaurus - Cite This Source
Main Entry:  elate
Part of Speech:  verb
Definition:  To raise the spirits of.
Synonyms:  animate, buoy, elevate, exhilarate, flush, inspirit, lift, uplift
Source:  Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition
by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary.
Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

  Roget's II: The New Thesaurus - Cite This Source
Main Entry:  encourage
Part of Speech:  verb
Definition:  To impart courage, inspiration, and resolution to.
Synonyms:  animate, cheer, embolden, inspirit, motivate
Source:  Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition
by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary.
Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.


View results from: Dictionary | Thesaurus | Encyclopedia | All Reference | the Web

Reference: No results found in Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia and Crystal Reference Encyclopedia. Would you like to see the 9 entries in other encyclopedias, or search the Web for Inspire?

Perform a new search, or try your search for "Inspire" at: