DictionaryRoot: spirare
Latin
spirare
breathe or blow
Forms
- spirare
- spirat- — The form used for completed action and its derivatives.
Origin
Latin spirare belongs to an old family associated with breathing and blowing; its earliest formation is uncertain.
Note
Breath could represent life itself, helping the family develop both physical and spiritual meanings.
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verb
inspire
in-SPY-er/ɪnˈspaɪər/
To awaken a strong feeling that moves someone to respond.
Etymology
To inspire is historically to “breathe into”: Latin already used this image for exciting or stirring someone. Filling a person with an idea, purpose, or feeling continues that figurative sense of giving inward animation.
Related word entries
- aspirant
- aspirate
- aspirationBreathy pronunciation
- aspirationAmbition
- aspire
- conspirator
- conspire
- expirationBreathing out
- expirationEnd of a set period
- expireReaching a time limit
- expireBreathing out
- inspirationCreative motivation
- inspirationBreathing in
- inspireEncouragement
- inspireBreathing in
- perspiration
- respirationCellular energy release
- respirationBreathing
- transpireRelease moisture
- transpireHappen
- transpireBecome known