ASPIRE • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Aspire

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/əspˈaɪr/ Listen

verb

Aspire v. t. To aspire to; to long for; to try to reach; to mount to. (Obs.) "That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds."

Aspire v. i. (past & past part. aspired; pres. part. aspiring)

To desire with eagerness; to seek to attain something high or great; to pant; to long; followed by to or after, and rarely by at; as, to aspire to a crown; to aspire after immorality. "Aspiring to be gods, if angels fell; Aspiring to be angels, men rebel."

To rise; to ascend; to tower; to soar. "My own breath still foments the fire, Which flames as high as fancy can aspire."

noun

Aspire n. Aspiration. (Obs.)

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Etymology of 'Aspire'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Aspire" Quotes from Famous Books

... do, however, draw certain lines of character and manners and occupation. You see the sort of people we are. Of course we have no prejudice against color, and we regard all labor as honorable, provided a man does the best he can. But we must have standards that will give our people something to aspire to." ...

— The Wife of his Youth and Other Stories of the Color Line, and - Selected Essays • Charles Waddell Chesnutt

... make use. Some anachronisms may be noted. Wherever they occur, they have been admitted, as aiding in the development of the story, and will probably be considered as of little importance in an unpretending volume, which does not aspire to ...

— Ragged Dick - Or, Street Life in New York with the Boot-Blacks • Horatio Alger

... this difficulty, he could not afford to exasperate his debtors; as they could have so easily retaliated by accusing him of Christianity. The wealthy disciple could not accept the office of a magistrate, for he would have thus only betrayed his creed; neither could he venture to aspire to any of the honours of the state, as his promotion would most certainly have aggravated the perils of his position. Our Saviour had said—"I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against ...

— The Ancient Church - Its History, Doctrine, Worship, and Constitution • W.D. [William Dool] Killen

... don't know it!" said Magsie Clay breezily. June was coming in, and Magsie was leaving town for the Villalonga camp. She told Rachael that she was "crazy" about Kent Parmalee, and Rachael's feeling of amazement that Magsie Clay could aspire to a Parmalee was softened by an odd sensation of relief at hearing Magsie's plans—a relief she ...

— The Heart of Rachael • Kathleen Norris

... looks, good birth, good-humor, and good assurance will do much; but the want of one or more of these will not invalidate the election, nor the union of all four insure it. It must be very pleasant to serve in the compagnie d'elite. They have privileges to which the Line may not aspire. It does not much matter what they do. Their victories make them no enemies, and their defeats raise them up hosts of sympathizers and apologists. When they err gravely, if you hint at the misdemeanor, a "true believer" looks at you indignantly, not to say contemptuously, ...

— Guy Livingstone; - or, 'Thorough' • George A. Lawrence

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