Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Inspire

Inspire (in*spīr") , transitive verb

[Old English enspiren, Old French enspirer, inspirer, French inspirer, from Latin 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, Inspirèd hath in every holt and heath 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. — Shakespeare
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; to inspire a person to do extraordinary feats.
Erato, thy poet's mind inspire, And fill his soul with thy celestial fire. — Dryden

Inspire , intransitive verb

1.
To draw in breath; to inhale air into the lungs; -- opposed to expire.
2.
To breathe; to blow gently. [Obsolete]
And when the wind amongst them did inspire, They wavèd like a penon wide dispread. — Spenser