Aspire | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

As-pīre', v. i.

verbintransitive

[imp. & p. p. ASPIRED; p. pr. & vb. n. ASPIRING.] [Lat. aspirāre, Fr. aspirer, Pr. aspirar. See ASPIRATE, v. t.]

Sense 1. To desire with eagerness; to pant; to long;—followed by to or after; as, to aspire to a crown, or after immortality.

Aspiring to be gods, if angels fell, Aspiring to be angels, men rebel. Pope.

Sense 2. To rise; to ascend; to tower; to soar.

My own breath still foments the fire, Which flames as high as fancy can aspire. Waller.

verbtransitive

v. t. To pant for; to long or try to reach; to aspire to. [Obs.]

That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds. Shak.

noun

n. Aspiration. [Obs.] “Choke my devout aspires.” Browne.