* Latin: "inspirare" meaning "to breathe into," literally "to breathe upon"
* Old French: "inspirer" meaning "to breathe into, to animate"
The original meaning of "inspire" referred to the act of breathing life into something, whether literally or metaphorically. This is why we still use the word "inspiration" to describe a feeling of being energized or motivated by something.
Here's a breakdown of how the word evolved:
1. Latin "inspirare": This word was used to describe the physical act of breathing air into something, like blowing on a fire to get it going.
2. Old French "inspirer": This word adopted the meaning of "to breathe life into," both literally and figuratively. It could refer to giving life to a newborn or inspiring someone to take action.
3. Middle English "inspire": The word was adopted into English and continued to evolve, eventually becoming the word we use today.
So, the next time you feel inspired, remember that the feeling you are experiencing comes from a word that literally means "to breathe life into" something!