Where does “inspirational” come from?
Inspirational comes from English inspiration, which derives from Latin inspiratus, the past participle of inspīrāre, meaning to breathe into, from in and spīrāre.
inspirational (English): Having the ability to inspire; A book or article...
Definitions
- Having the ability to inspire; A book or article...
Ancestry of “inspirational”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | inspiration | The drawing of air into the lungs, accomplished... |
| 2 | Old French | inspiration | inspiration act of breathing in |
| 3 | Latin | īnspīrātiōnem | — |
| 4 | Latin | inspiratus | inspired; inflamed; instilled |
| 5 | Latin | īnspīrō | to breathe into; to blow upon |
| 6 | Latin | īn- | un-, non-, not |
| 7 | Latin | în | in, at, on, upon, from (space) |
| 8 | Latin | en | lookǃ beholdǃ; reallyǃ?; come onǃ |
| 9 | Proto-Italic | en | in |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁én | in |