Inspire and perplex (6)
I believe the answer is:
bemuse
This might be a double definition.
'inspire' is the first definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with human feelings as well as being verbs in their base form.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'perplex' is the second definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'and' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for bemuse that I've seen before include "Cause puzzlement" , "Nonplus" , "Puzzle, make confused" , "Puzzle and confuse" , "Fox" .)