Nearby Words

inspiring

[in-spahyuhr] Example Sentences Origin

in·spire

[in-spahyuhr] 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.
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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 followed by into).
b.
to breathe into or upon.
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verb (used without object)
12.
to give inspiration.
13.
to inhale.

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Inspiring is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.

Origin:
1300–50; Middle English inspiren < Latin inspīrāre to breathe upon or into, equivalent to in- in-2 + spīrāre to breathe

in·spir·a·tive [in-spahyuhr-uh-tiv, in-spi-rey-tiv] , adjective
in·spir·er, noun
in·spir·ing·ly, adverb
pre·in·spire, verb (used with object), -spired, -spir·ing.
pseu·do·in·spir·ing, adjective
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re·in·spire, verb, -spired, -spir·ing.
un·in·spir·ing, adjective
un·in·spir·ing·ly, adverb
COLLAPSE
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To inspiring
Example Sentences
  • Anna had a rich life and has left an inspiring legacy.
  • These individuals are inspiring and encouraging a new generation of business professionals.
  • He was an inspiring lecturer, a popular colleague and a gentle man.
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

inspire in·spire (ĭn-spīr')
v. in·spired, in·spir·ing, in·spires
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.
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