afflatus Hear it!

afflatus Definition

af·fla·tus (ə flāt′əs, a-)

noun

inspiration or powerful impulse, as of an artist or poet

Etymology: L < pp. of afflare, to blow on < ad-, to + flare, to blow < IE base *bhel-: see bladder

afflatus Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • divine: Whatever happened to passion and vision and the divine afflatus in poetry?
  • poetic: The poetic afflatus, here, works not so much in accordance with fancy, as with quick viscera.