The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Inspiration \In`spi*ra"tion\, n. [F. inspiration, L. inspiratio.
See Inspire.]
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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.
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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.
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Your father was ever virtuous, and holy men at their
death have good inspirations. --Shak.
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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.
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All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. --2
Tim. iii. 16.
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The age which we now live in is not an age of
inspiration and impulses. --Sharp.
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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.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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.
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Made she no verbal question? --Shak.
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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.
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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.
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And loses, though but verbal, his reward. --Milton.
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Mere verbal refinements, instead of substantial
knowledge. --Whewell.
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3. Having word answering to word; word for word; literal; as,
a verbal translation.
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4. Abounding with words; verbose. [Obs.] --Shak.
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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.
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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.
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