Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Inspiration \In`spi*ra"tion\, n. [F. inspiration, L. inspiratio.
   See {Inspire}.]
   1. The act of inspiring or breathing in; breath; specif.
      (Physiol.), the drawing of air into the lungs,
      accomplished in mammals by elevation of the chest walls
      and flattening of the diaphragm; -- the opposite of
      expiration.

   2. The act or power of exercising an elevating or stimulating
      influence upon the intellect or emotions; the result of
      such influence which quickens or stimulates; as, the
      inspiration of occasion, of art, etc.

            Your father was ever virtuous, and holy men at their
            death have good inspirations.         --Shak.

   3. (Theol.) 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 men to receive and
      communicate divine truth; also, the truth communicated.

            All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. --2
                                                  Tim. iii. 16.

            The age which we now live in is not an age of
            inspiration and impulses.             --Sharp.

   {Plenary inspiration} (Theol.), that kind of inspiration
      which excludes all defect in the utterance of the inspired
      message.

   {Verbal inspiration} (Theol.), that kind of inspiration which
      extends to the very words and forms of expression of the
      divine message.

Verbal \Ver"bal\, a. [F., fr. L. verbalis. See {Verb}.]
   1. Expressed in words, whether spoken or written, but
      commonly in spoken words; hence, spoken; oral; not
      written; as, a verbal contract; verbal testimony.

            Made she no verbal question?          --Shak.

            We subjoin an engraving . . . which will give the
            reader a far better notion of the structure than any
            verbal description could convey to the mind.
                                                  --Mayhew.

   2. Consisting in, or having to do with, words only; dealing
      with words rather than with the ideas intended to be
      conveyed; as, a verbal critic; a verbal change.

            And loses, though but verbal, his reward. --Milton.

            Mere verbal refinements, instead of substantial
            knowledge.                            --Whewell.

   3. Having word answering to word; word for word; literal; as,
      a verbal translation.

   4. Abounding with words; verbose. [Obs.] --Shak.

   5. (Gram.) Of or pertaining to a verb; as, a verbal group;
      derived directly from a verb; as, a verbal noun; used in
      forming verbs; as, a verbal prefix.

   {Verbal inspiration}. See under {Inspiration}.

   {Verbal noun} (Gram.), a noun derived directly from a verb or
      verb stem; a verbal. The term is specifically applied to
      infinitives, and nouns ending in -ing, esp. to the latter.
      See {Gerund}, and {-ing}, 2. See also, {Infinitive mood},
      under {Infinitive}.