from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Breathe \Breathe\, v. t.
1. To inhale and exhale in the process of respiration; to
respire.
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To view the light of heaven, and breathe the vital
air. --Dryden.
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2. To inject by breathing; to infuse; -- with into.
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Able to breathe life into a stone. --Shak.
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And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the
ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of
life. --Gen. ii. 7.
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3. To emit or utter by the breath; to utter softly; to
whisper; as, to breathe a vow.
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He softly breathed thy name. --Dryden.
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Or let the church, our mother, breathe her curse,
A mother's curse, on her revolting son. --Shak.
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4. To exhale; to emit, as breath; as, the flowers breathe
odors or perfumes.
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5. To express; to manifest; to give forth.
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Others articles breathe the same severe spirit.
--Milner.
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6. To act upon by the breath; to cause to sound by breathing.
"They breathe the flute." --Prior.
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7. To promote free respiration in; to exercise.
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And every man should beat thee. I think thou wast
created for men to breathe themselves upon thee.
--Shak.
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8. To suffer to take breath, or recover the natural
breathing; to rest; as, to breathe a horse.
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A moment breathed his panting steed. --Sir W.
Scott.
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9. To put out of breath; to exhaust.
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Mr. Tulkinghorn arrives in his turret room, a little
breathed by the journey up. --Dickens.
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10. (Phonetics) To utter without vocality, as the nonvocal
consonants.
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The same sound may be pronounces either breathed,
voiced, or whispered. --H. Sweet.
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Breathed elements, being already voiceless, remain
unchanged
Note: [in whispering]. --H. Sweet.
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{To breathe again}, to take breath; to feel a sense of
relief, as from danger, responsibility, or press of
business.
{To breathe one's last}, to die; to expire.
{To breathe a vein}, to open a vein; to let blood. --Dryden.
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