\In*spire"\, v. t. [OE. enspiren, OF. enspirer,
inspirer, F. inspirer, fr. L. inspirare; pref. in- in +
spirare to breathe. See {Spirit}.]
1. To breathe into; to fill with the breath; to animate.
         When Zephirus eek, with his sweete breath,
         Inspir[`e]d hath in every holt and health The tender
         crops.                                --Chaucer.
         Descend, ye Nine, descend and sing, The breathing
         instruments inspire.                  --Pope.
2. To infuse by breathing, or as if by breathing.
         He knew not his Maker, and him that inspired into
         him an active soul.                   --Wisdom xv.
                                               11.
3. To draw in by the operation of breathing; to inhale; --
   opposed to {expire}.
         Forced to inspire and expire the air with
         difficulty.                           --Harvey.
4. To infuse into the mind; to communicate to the spirit; to
   convey, as by a divine or supernatural influence; to
   disclose preternaturally; to produce in, as by
   inspiration.
         And generous stout courage did inspire. --Spenser.
         But dawning day new comfort hath inspired. --Shak.
5. To infuse into; to affect, as with a superior or
   supernatural influence; to fill with what animates,
   enlivens, or exalts; to communicate inspiration to; as, to
   inspire a child with sentiments of virtue.
         Erato, thy poet's mind inspire, And fill his soul
         with thy celestial fire.              --Dryden.

\In*spire"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Inspired}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Inspiring}.]
1. To draw in breath; to inhale air into the lungs; --
   opposed to {expire}.
2. To breathe; to blow gently. [Obs.]
         And when the wind amongst them did inspire, They
         wav[`e]d like a penon wide dispread.  --Spenser.