Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Inspire \In*spire"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Inspired}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Inspiring}.]
   1. To draw in breath; to inhale air into the lungs; --
      opposed to {expire}.

   2. To breathe; to blow gently. [Obs.]

            And when the wind amongst them did inspire, They
            wav[`e]d like a penon wide dispread.  --Spenser.

Inspire \In*spire"\, v. t. [OE. enspiren, OF. enspirer,
   inspirer, F. inspirer, fr. L. 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,
            Inspir[`e]d hath in every holt and health 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.

Source : WordNet®

inspire
     v 1: heighten or intensify; "These paintings exalt the
          imagination" [syn: {animate}, {invigorate}, {enliven}, {exalt}]
     2: supply the inspiration for; "The article about the artist
        inspired the exhibition of his recent work"
     3: serve as the inciting cause of; "She prompted me to call my
        relatives" [syn: {prompt}, {instigate}]
     4: urge on or encourage especially by shouts; "The crowd
        cheered the demonstrating strikers" [syn: {cheer}, {urge},
         {barrack}, {urge on}, {exhort}, {pep up}]
     5: fill with revolutionary ideas [syn: {revolutionize}, {revolutionise}]
     6: draw in (air); "Inhale deeply"; "inhale the fresh mountain
        air"; "The patient has trouble inspiring"; "The lung
        cancer patient cannot inspire air very well" [syn: {inhale},
         {breathe in}] [ant: {exhale}]