Aspire
[ə'spaɪə] or [ə'spaɪr]
Definition
(v. t.) 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.
(v. t.) To rise; to ascend; to tower; to soar.
(v. t.) To aspire to; to long for; to try to reach; to mount to.
(n.) Aspiration.
Checked by Carlton
Synonyms and Synonymous
v. n. [1]. Desire (earnestly), long.[2]. Ascend, rise, soar, tower, mount.
Checked by Irving
Definition
v.i. to desire eagerly: to aim at high things: to tower up.—n. Aspirā′tion eager desire.—adj. Aspīr′ing.—adv. Aspīr′ingly.—n. Aspīr′ingness.
Inputed by Edgar
Examples
- If Dr. Franklin did not aspire after the splendour of eloquence, it was only because the demonstrative plainness of his manner was superior to it. Benjamin Franklin. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin.
- This match, to which you have the presumption to aspire, can never take place. Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.
- He wanted to train me to an elevation I could never reach; it racked me hourly to aspire to the standard he uplifted. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- Was he really so superior, and would he crush the poor worms which dared not aspire to his perfections? Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- Of this mighty Order I am no mean member, but already one of the Chief Commanders, and may well aspire one day to hold the batoon of Grand Master. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- In a word, it is to correct your brother in this, Mrs. Bounderby, that I must aspire. Charles Dickens. Hard Times.
- Such a person, too, though he cannot aspire at being a proprietor, will often disdain to be a farmer. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- From my birth I have aspired like the eagle --but, unlike the eagle, my wings have failed, and my vision has been blinded. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- This was very dry; but, I had not aspired to Lord Byron's love and I did not despair of making his acquaintance. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- The council aspired to reunite Christendom completely. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Being assisted by a gentleman who not long ago aspired to the favour of your hand, I am sanguine as to that. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- It is the right-hand parlour, into which an aspiring kitchen fireplace appears to have walked, accompanied by a rebellious poker, tongs, and shovel. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- He was shy, and unwilling to own to the name of Reginald, as being too aspiring and self-assertive a name. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- Partaking of the essence of each, it will one day be better than either--stronger, much purer, more aspiring. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- Tis strange to see the humors of these men, These great aspiring spirits, that should be wise: . George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- The warm spring sunshine brought out all sorts of aspiring ideas, tender hopes, and happy thoughts. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
Checker: Maisie