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inspiring - 4 dictionary results

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.
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


in⋅spir⋅a⋅tive [in-spahyuhr-uh-tiv, in-spi-rey-tiv] , adjective
in⋅spir⋅er, noun
in⋅spir⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
in·spire   (ĭn-spīr')   
v.   in·spired, in·spir·ing, in·spires

v.   tr.
  1. To affect, guide, or arouse by divine influence.
  2. To fill with enlivening or exalting emotion: hymns that inspire the congregation; an artist who was inspired by Impressionism.
    1. To stimulate to action; motivate: a sales force that was inspired by the prospect of a bonus.
    2. To affect or touch: The falling leaves inspired her with sadness.
    3. To breathe on.
    4. To breathe life into.
  3. To draw forth; elicit or arouse: a teacher who inspired admiration and respect.
  4. To be the cause or source of; bring about: an invention that inspired many imitations.
  5. To draw in (air) by inhaling.
  6. Archaic
    1. To breathe on.
    2. To breathe life into.
v.   intr.
  1. To stimulate energies, ideals, or reverence: a leader who inspires by example.
  2. To inhale.

[Middle English enspiren, from Old French enspirer, from Latin īnspīrāre : in-, into; see in-2 + spīrāre, to breathe.]
in·spir'er n.
in·spir·ing   (ĭn-spīr'ĭng)   
adj.  Tending to arouse or exalt: an inspiring eulogy.
in·spir'ing·ly adv.

Inspiring

In*spir"ing\, a. Animating; cheering; moving; exhilarating; as, an inspiring or scene.
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