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afflatus

noun
af·​fla·​tus | \ ə-ˈflā-təs How to pronounce afflatus (audio) , a-\

Definition of afflatus

: a divine imparting of knowledge or power : inspiration

Did You Know?

Inspiration might be described as a breath of fresh air, and so it is appropriate that inspire derives in part from a word meaning "to breathe" (the Latin spirare). "Afflatus" is a lesser-known word for inspiration that followed a parallel route. "Afflatus," which in Latin means the act of blowing or breathing on, was formed from the prefix ad- ("to, toward") and the Latin verb flare ("to blow"). That same Latin verb gave us such words as "inflate" and (via French) "soufflé." The orator Cicero used "afflatus" in his Latin writings to compare the appearance of a new idea to a breath of fresh air. Nowadays, one often finds the word preceded by the adjective "divine," but poets and artists can find inspiration in the material world as well.

First Known Use of afflatus

1649, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for afflatus

borrowed from Latin afflātus, literally, "emission of breath, exhalation," from afflāre "to breathe on or toward, inspire" (from ad- ad- + flāre "to blow, breathe") + -tus, suffix of verbal action — more at blow entry 1

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Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with afflatus

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