To fill with spirit or courage; to inspire or animate.
From Old English 'be-' (prefix) + 'spirit' (from Latin 'spiritus,' meaning breath or soul). The verb form means to breathe life or courage into someone.
Notice how 'spirit' comes from the Latin word for 'breath'—so 'bespirit' literally means to breathe courage into someone! This connects to why we say 'inspire,' which also comes from Latin 'inspirare' (to breathe into). Ancient languages saw courage and life force as literally breathed into people.
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