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Etymology of "Inspiration"

Mr. & Mrs. English

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Episode  ·  21:14  ·  Aug 24, 2025

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Today we're looking at the etymology of the words "inspiration" and "spirit," tracing their origins from the Latin inspirare ("to breathe into") and spiritus ("breath"). It details how the meanings evolved, moving from literal breathing to figurative senses of divine influence and animating force. The etymological analysis reveals connections between these words and concepts of life, divine power, and even alcoholic beverages. We will also examine related terms and their historical usage across various languages and disciplines, highlighting the rich and multifaceted history of these fundamental concepts.#etymology #englishlanguage #englishvocabulary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

21m 14s  ·  Aug 24, 2025

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