Where does “inspiration” come from?
Inspiration comes from Old French inspiration, from Late Latin inspirationem, from Latin inspiratus, the past participle of inspiro, meaning to breathe into.
inspiration (English): The drawing of air into the lungs, accomplished...
Definitions
- The drawing of air into the lungs, accomplished...
Ancestry of “inspiration”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | inspiration | inspiration act of breathing in |
| 2 | Latin | īnspīrātiōnem | — |
| 3 | Latin | inspiratus | inspired; inflamed; instilled |
| 4 | Latin | īnspīrō | to breathe into; to blow upon |
| 5 | Latin | īn- | un-, non-, not |
| 6 | Latin | în | in, at, on, upon, from (space) |
| 7 | Latin | en | lookǃ beholdǃ; reallyǃ?; come onǃ |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | en | in |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁én | in |