Sometimes the word "inspire" is found in a speech. What is this term? We will find out the nuances in the article. Let us analyze its significance using available examples.
To “inspire” means to “incite”
Of course, the word in question belongs to book vocabulary and is rarely found in everyday speech, or it slips among intellectuals who like to express themselves clearly.
The first meaning that dictionaries give is: to inspire is the same as to incite. That is, negative associations often arise with this word. For example, to inspire rebellion against the government or the entire world order. But this, perhaps, is not a very clear example, we give a closer case to everyone.
Rebel schoolboy and frustrated lesson
Everyone who studied at school is familiar with the situation when the class is not ready for the lesson. And a particularly talkative student is asked to distract the teacher until the end of the lesson. As a rule, such a trick is a success. Perhaps the nonconformist schoolchildren are not familiar with the meaning of the word “inspire” (this is the term and how to interpret it, we partially mentioned above), but it successfully practices this concept.
The second meaning of the word "inspire"
The concept is also associated with violent psychological actions in relation to reality. In this case, inspiring is the same as inspiring. If the first value is negative in its emotional coloring, then the second can not be said so. Of course, it’s bad for someone to instill a certain way of thinking or acting. But people living in the community, one way or another affect each other.
For example, V.I. Lenin inspired the Russian revolution. And still it is not clear: what happened is bad or good? Reality is generally ambivalent, that is, at the same time it has both good and bad. What to give preference to, the person decides. A lot depends on the point of view on certain things. Thus, it turns out that the above meaning of the word is neutral.
Inspired: what does it mean?
Based on the meaning of the word, it is not so difficult to establish the meaning of the passive participle “inspired”. Its meaning is easily deciphered. Inspired - this is a fact or action that was brought to life by someone's intervention (direct or indirect), incitement, suggestion. It is important to note that here not a word is said about the natural course of events when people communicate and, accordingly, somehow mutually influence each other. This concept is based on another - there is a manipulative person and that person who is subjected to pressure and inclination to a certain action or inference.
Positive value
Contrary to dictionaries, sometimes people use the concept of “inspire” (the meaning of the word in a positive sense will be discussed later) as a synonym for the “inspire” token. Thus, they make a direct translation from English, for to inspire means "inspire." But according to Russian dictionaries, this is not quite the right use of the non-Slavic word. Of course, the language is plastic and can endure a lot. Over time, some words have changed their emotional poles, turning from positive to negative and vice versa. For example, the word "witch" has changed plus to minus. Previously, it meant a woman healer who knew about herbs and plants and treated in accordance with nature, and now a witch is a lady who flies on the Sabbath and kisses the hoof of the devil. Previously, people respected the witch, and now they are afraid, because she has become synonymous with darkness and evil.
Based on this well-known example, we can say: the word "inspire" does not necessarily carry a negative characteristic. It is important to understand exactly what the speaker means. Perhaps he knows English, German or Latin and literally translates this concept.
Difficulties in use
As you can see, the word "inspire" is very insidious, so you need to be careful with it. According to its emotional coloring, it can express both negative and positive or neutral values. How to be Very simple: you need to use in speech only those words in the meaning of which a person is sure. For example, if you ask the question “what does it mean to inspire?”, Then referring to the Russian language, we can definitely say that the word carries rather negative than positive meaning. To inspire is to inspire or incite.
True, in one case, the degree of violence over reality or a person is slightly less than in another. But the difference is small, and the basic meaning remains the same.
It's time to formulate the result. What is inspiring? The word definition is decomposed into three options:
- To inspire is the same as to incite, that is, to exert a psychological effect on a person in order to obtain a specific result.
- To inspire is to inspire something to a person or group of people.
- Inspire someone to do something.
True, sometimes people use the word in the general sense of motivation or motivation for something. In other words, the word “inspire” is not easy to use, and certain knowledge is needed in its handling.