inspiration

noun

Etymology: From Middle English inspiracioun, from Old French inspiration, from Late Latin īnspīrātiōnem (nominative: īnspīrātiō), from Latin īnspīrātus (past participle of inspīrō). By surface analysis, inspire + -ation. Displaced native Old English onbryrdnes (literally “in-pricked-ness”).

1. 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 breathing.

   “Holonym: respiration”

   “The respiratory movements are no longer normal and rhythmic acts of inspiration and exspiration, but abnormal and irregular expiratory movements”

2. A single inward breath (intake of air).

   “Laughing is produced by an inspiration succeeded by a succession of short imperfect expirations.”

   “One of them had a temperature of 40° cent. 104° Fahr. and 97 inspirations per minute.”

3. 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 question, therefore, at issue is, not whether those external means be sufficient without grace and divine inspiration, for none pretends that": but, in order to hinder men from feigning or imagining an inspiration, whether it has not been God's economy, and his usual conduct to make his inspiration walk hand in hand with certain means of fact, which men can neither feign in the air without being convicted of falsehood, nor imagine without illusion.”

   “The more strongly people felt about their ideas, the more potent the demons seemed to them: Christians believed that traditional paganism, far from being the work of men, was an 'opium of the masses', pumped into the human race by the non-human demons; and one scholar even ascribed bad reviews of his book to demonic inspiration!”

4. The act or process of an elevating or stimulating influence upon the intellect, emotions or creativity.

   “She was waiting for inspiration to write a book.”

   “Usage notes: In this sense, it may be followed by the adposition to in relation to the person being influenced, and for or to in relation to the idea or activity:”

5. A person, object, or situation which quickens or stimulates an influence upon the intellect, emotions or creativity.

   “The trip was an inspiration to her for writing a book.”

   “She had grown accustomed to look upon Ethel as Walter's passion and inspiration: it was something far off and distant, which even she felt was sacred; but Lady Marchmont was a new rival, and come too actual, and too near.”

6. A new idea, especially one which arises suddenly and is clever or creative.

   “After an interval the Psychologist had an inspiration. "It must have gone into the past if it has gone anywhere," he said.”

   “Mrs. Balfame had an inspiration. "My God!" she exclaimed, springing to her feet, "the murderer . . . was hidden in the cellar or attic all night, all the next day! He may be here yet!"”