DictionaryRoot: spirare
Latin
spirare
breathe or blow
Forms
- spirare
- spirat- — The form used for completed action and its derivatives.
Origin
Latin spirare belongs to an old family associated with breathing and blowing; its earliest formation is uncertain.
Note
Breath could represent life itself, helping the family develop both physical and spiritual meanings.
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verb
inspire
To draw air into the lungs.
Etymology
The prefix supplies inward direction and the verb means breathe. This physical sense preserves the literal action of drawing breath inward.
Related word entries
- aspirant
- aspirate
- aspirationBreathy pronunciation
- aspirationAmbition
- aspire
- conspirator
- conspire
- expirationBreathing out
- expirationEnd of a set period
- expireReaching a time limit
- expireBreathing out
- inspirationCreative motivation
- inspirationBreathing in
- inspireEncouragement
- inspireBreathing in
- perspiration
- respirationCellular energy release
- respirationBreathing
- transpireRelease moisture
- transpireHappen
- transpireBecome known