inspiration

Meaning

Noun

• The drawing of air into the lungs, accomplished in mammals by elevation of the chest walls and flattening of the diaphragm, as part of the act of respiration.
• A breath, a single inhalation.
• A supernatural divine influence on the prophets, apostles, or sacred writers, by which they were qualified to communicate moral or religious truth with authority; a supernatural influence which qualifies people to receive and communicate divine truth; also, the truth communicated.
• The act of an elevating or stimulating influence upon the intellect, emotions or creativity.
• A person, object, or situation which quickens or stimulates an influence upon the intellect, emotions or creativity.
• A new idea, especially one which arises suddenly and is clever or creative.

Related

Similar words

• inhalation
• spark, flash, eureka

Opposite words

• expiration

Origin

• From Middle English inspiracioun, from Old French inspiration, from Late Latin īnspīrātiōnem (nominative: īnspīrātiō), from Latin īnspīrātus (past participle of inspīrō).
• Morphologically inspire + -ation