1. a divine creative impulse or inspiration, especially in poetry or art
Usage: formal; literary

Examples

• The poet claimed his greatest works came from divine afflatus rather than conscious effort.
• She waited for the afflatus to strike before beginning her masterpiece.
• The artist described his creative process as dependent on moments of afflatus.
• Without the afflatus of inspiration, his writing felt mechanical and lifeless.
• The composer attributed his symphony to a sudden afflatus that came to him in a dream.
• Critics debated whether his work showed genuine afflatus or mere technical skill.