Inspiration

n. [Lat. inspiratio, Fr. inspiration, Pr. inspiracio, Sp. inspiracion, It. inspirazione. See INSPIRE.] 1. The act of inspiring, breathing in, infusing, and the like; inhalation; as, the inspiration of the air into the lungs;—opposed to expiration. There is a spirit in man; and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth him understanding. Job xxxii. 8. 2. The act of exercising an elevating influence upon the intellect or emotions; an extraordinary elevation of the imagination or other powers of the soul; as, the inspiration of the scene. 3. The result of such extraordinary influences and elevation in the thoughts, emotions, or purposes inspired. Your father was ever virtuous, and holy men at their death have good inspirations. Shak. 4. Specifically, 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 miraculous influence which qualifies men to receive and communicate divine truth. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. 2 Tim. iii. 16. The age in which we now live is not an age of inspiration and impulses. Sharp. Plenary inspiration, that kind of inspiration in which the inspired person is incapable of uttering or communicating any error with the inspired message.— Verbal inspiration, that kind of inspiration in which the very words and forms of expression of the divine message are communicated to the inspired person.