from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Breathe \Breathe\ (br[=e][th]), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Breathed}
(br[=e][th]d); p. pr. & vb. n. {Breathing}.] [From {Breath}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. To respire; to inhale and exhale air; hence;, to live. "I
am in health, I breathe." --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Breathes there a man with soul so dead
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land! --Sir W. Scott
[The Lay of
the Last
Minstrel].
[1913 Webster +PJC]
2. To take breath; to rest from action.
[1913 Webster]
Well! breathe awhile, and then to it again! --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
3. To pass like breath; noiselessly or gently; to exhale; to
emanate; to blow gently.
[1913 Webster]
The air breathes upon us here most sweetly. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
There breathes a living fragrance from the shore.
--Byron.
[1913 Webster]
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Breathing \Breath"ing\, n.
1. Respiration; the act of inhaling and exhaling air.
[1913 Webster]
Subject to a difficulty of breathing. --Melmoth.
[1913 Webster]
2. Air in gentle motion.
[1913 Webster]
3. Any gentle influence or operation; inspiration; as, the
breathings of the Spirit.
[1913 Webster]
4. Aspiration; secret prayer. "Earnest desires and breathings
after that blessed state." --Tillotson.
[1913 Webster]
5. Exercising; promotion of respiration.
[1913 Webster]
Here is a lady that wants breathing too;
And I have heard, you knights of Tyre
Are excellent in making ladies trip. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
6. Utterance; communication or publicity by words.
[1913 Webster]
I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
7. Breathing place; vent. --Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
8. Stop; pause; delay.
[1913 Webster]
You shake the head at so long a breathing. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
9. Also, in a wider sense, the sound caused by the friction
of the outgoing breath in the throat, mouth, etc., when
the glottis is wide open; aspiration; the sound expressed
by the letter h.
[1913 Webster]
10. (Gr. Gram.) A mark to indicate aspiration or its absence.
See {Rough breathing}, {Smooth breathing}, below.
[1913 Webster]
{Breathing place}.
(a) A pause. "That c[ae]sura, or breathing place, in the
midst of the verse." --Sir P. Sidney.
(b) A vent.
{Breathing time}, pause; relaxation. --Bp. Hall.
{Breathing while}, time sufficient for drawing breath; a
short time. --Shak.
{Rough breathing} ({spiritus asper}) ([spasp]). See 2d
{Asper}, n.
{Smooth breathing} ({spiritus lenis}), a mark (') indicating
the absence of the sound of h, as in 'ie`nai (ienai).
[1913 Webster]
[1913 Webster]