The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Inspire \In*spire"\ ([i^]n*sp[imac]r"), v. t. [OE. enspiren, OF.
   enspirer, inspirer, F. inspirer, fr. L. inspirare; pref. in-
   in + spirare to breathe. See Spirit.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. To breathe into; to fill with the breath; to animate.
      [1913 Webster]

            When Zephirus eek, with his sweete breath,
            Inspir[`e]d hath in every holt and heath
            The tender crops.                     --Chaucer.
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            Descend, ye Nine, descend and sing,
            The breathing instruments inspire.    --Pope.
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   2. To infuse by breathing, or as if by breathing.
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            He knew not his Maker, and him that inspired into
            him an active soul.                   --Wisdom xv.
                                                  11.
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   3. To draw in by the operation of breathing; to inhale; --
      opposed to expire.
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            Forced to inspire and expire the air with
            difficulty.                           --Harvey.
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   4. To infuse into the mind; to communicate to the spirit; to
      convey, as by a divine or supernatural influence; to
      disclose preternaturally; to produce in, as by
      inspiration.
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            And generous stout courage did inspire. --Spenser.
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            But dawning day new comfort hath inspired. --Shak.
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   5. To infuse into; to affect, as with a superior or
      supernatural influence; to fill with what animates,
      enlivens, or exalts; to communicate inspiration to; as, to
      inspire a child with sentiments of virtue; to inspire a
      person to do extraordinary feats.
      [1913 Webster +PJC]

            Erato, thy poet's mind inspire,
            And fill his soul with thy celestial fire. --Dryden.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Inspire \In*spire"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Inspired; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Inspiring.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. To draw in breath; to inhale air into the lungs; --
      opposed to expire.
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   2. To breathe; to blow gently. [Obs.]
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            And when the wind amongst them did inspire,
            They wav[`e]d like a penon wide dispread. --Spenser.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

inspire
    v 1: heighten or intensify; "These paintings exalt the
         imagination" [syn: inspire, 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, inspire, instigate]
    4: spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts; "The
       crowd cheered the demonstrating strikers" [syn: cheer,
       root on, inspire, urge, barrack, urge on, exhort,
       pep up]
    5: fill with revolutionary ideas [syn: revolutionize,
       revolutionise, inspire]
    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,
       inspire, breathe in] [ant: breathe out, exhale,
       expire]