inspire
[ in-spahyuh r ]
/ ɪnˈspaɪər /
verb (used with object), in·spired, in·spir·ing.
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
OTHER WORDS FROM inspire
Words nearby inspire
Example sentences from the Web for uninspiring
British Dictionary definitions for uninspiring (1 of 2)
uninspiring
/ (ˌʌnɪnˈspaɪərɪŋ) /
adjective
not stimulating or invigorating
an uninspiring performance
British Dictionary definitions for uninspiring (2 of 2)
inspire
/ (ɪnˈspaɪə) /
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 to
her 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
- to breathe into or upon
- to breathe life into
Derived forms of inspire
inspirable, adjective inspirative, adjective inspirer, noun inspiringly, adverbWord Origin for inspire
C14 (in the sense: to breathe upon, blow into): from Latin
inspīrāre, from
spīrāre to breathe
Medical definitions for uninspiring
inspire
[ ĭn-spīr′ ]
v.
To draw in breath; to inhale.