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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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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