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To rise or be given off, as vapor; to pass off, or vanish. Their inspiration exhaled in elegies. Prescott.

out, or forcing air from the lungs through the nose or mouth; as, respiration consists of inspiration and expiration; -- opposed to Ant: inspiration.

A modified respiratory movement; a spasmodic inspiration, consisting of a sudden contraction of the diaphragm, accompanied with closure of the glottis, so that further entrance of air is prevented, while the impulse of the column of air entering and striking upon the closed glottis produces a sound, or hiccough. [Writt…

was struck by the hoof of Pegasus. Also, its waters, which were supposed to impart poetic inspiration. Keats. Nor maddening draughts of Hippocrene. Longfellow.

The special communication of knowledge to the mind by God; inspiration. Hymns and psalms . . . are framed by meditation beforehand, or by prophetical illumination are inspired. Hooker.

Infusion of life or vigor; animation; inspiration. [Obs.] The inanimation of Christ living and breathing within us. Bp. Hall.

That which is caused to enter; inspiration; influence; hence, courage or zeal imparted. [R.] I would then make in and steep My income in their blood. Chapman.

Not holding the faith; -- applied esp. to one who does not believe in the inspiration of the Scriptures, and the supernatural origin of Christianity. The infidel writer is a great enemy to society. V. Knox.

or belief in some religious system; especially, a want of faith in, or disbelief of, the inspiration of the Scriptures, of the divine origin of Christianity. There is, indeed, no doubt but that vanity is one of the principal causes of infidelity. V. Knox.

A blowing or breathing into; inflation; inspiration. The divine breath that blows the nostrils out To ineffable inflatus. Mrs. Browning.

That which is infused; suggestion; inspiration. His folly and his wisdom are of his oun growth, not the echo or infusion of other men. Swift.

Capable of being inspired or drawn into the lungs; inhalable; respirable; admitting inspiration. Harvey.

Pertaining to, or aiding, inspiration; as, the inspiratory muscles.

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.

Moved or animated by, or as by, a supernatural influence; affected by divine inspiration; as, the inspired prophets; the inspired writers.

Instinct; incitement; inspiration. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.

Spiritual inspiration at separate times, or at intervals. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

this account he is, in modern times, associated with the Muses, and with ideas of poetic inspiration. Each spurs his jaded Pegasus apace. Byron.

remission of temporal punishment due to, or canonical penance for, all sins. -- Plenary inspiration. (Theol.) See under Inspiration.

gibe; a cutting jest. The sarcasms of those critics who imagine our art to be a matter of inspiration. Sir J. Reynolds.