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Word Study
Breath
CIDE DICTIONARY
Breath, n. [OE. breth, breeth, AS. br odor, scent, breath; cf. OHG. brādam steam, vapor, breath, G. brodem, and possibly E. Brawn, and Breed.].
- The air inhaled and exhaled in respiration; air which, in the process of respiration, has parted with oxygen and has received carbonic acid, aqueous vapor, warmth, etc. [1913 Webster]"Melted as breath into the wind." [1913 Webster]
- The act of breathing naturally or freely; the power or capacity to breathe freely; as, I am out of breath. [1913 Webster]
- The power of respiration, and hence, life. Hood. [1913 Webster]"Thou takest away their breath, they die." [1913 Webster]
- Time to breathe; respite; pause. [1913 Webster]"Give me some breath, some little pause." [1913 Webster]
- A single respiration, or the time of making it; a single act; an instant. [1913 Webster]"He smiles and he frowns in a breath." [1913 Webster]
- Fig.: That which gives or strengthens life. [1913 Webster]"The earthquake voice of victory,
To thee the breath of life." [1913 Webster] - A single word; the slightest effort; a trifle. [1913 Webster]"A breath can make them, as a breath has made." [1913 Webster]
- A very slight breeze; air in gentle motion. [1913 Webster]"Calm and unruffled as a summer's sea,
when not a breath of wind flies o'er its surface." [1913 Webster] - Fragrance; exhalation; odor; perfume. Tennison. [1913 Webster]"The breath of flowers." [1913 Webster]
- Gentle exercise, causing a quicker respiration. [1913 Webster]"An after dinner's breath." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Breath, n.
1 a the air taken into or expelled from the lungs. b one respiration of air. c an exhalation of air that can be seen, smelt, or heard (breath steamed in the cold air; bad breath).
2 a a slight movement of air; a breeze. b a whiff of perfume etc.
3 a whisper, a murmur (esp. of a scandalous nature).
4 the power of breathing; life (is there breath in him?).
1 a the air taken into or expelled from the lungs. b one respiration of air. c an exhalation of air that can be seen, smelt, or heard (breath steamed in the cold air; bad breath).
2 a a slight movement of air; a breeze. b a whiff of perfume etc.
3 a whisper, a murmur (esp. of a scandalous nature).
4 the power of breathing; life (is there breath in him?).
Idiom
below (or under) one's breath in a whisper. breath of fresh air
1 a small amount of or a brief time in the fresh air.
2 a refreshing change. breath of life a necessity. breath test Brit. a test of a person's alcohol consumption, using a breathalyser.
catch one's breath
1 cease breathing momentarily in surprise, suspense, etc.
2 rest after exercise to restore normal breathing. draw breath breathe; live. hold one's breath cease breathing temporarily. in the same breath (esp. of saying two contradictory things) within a short time. out of breath gasping for air, esp. after exercise. take breath pause for rest. take one's breath away astound; surprise; awe; delight. waste one's breath talk or give advice without effect.
1 a small amount of or a brief time in the fresh air.
2 a refreshing change. breath of life a necessity. breath test Brit. a test of a person's alcohol consumption, using a breathalyser.
catch one's breath
1 cease breathing momentarily in surprise, suspense, etc.
2 rest after exercise to restore normal breathing. draw breath breathe; live. hold one's breath cease breathing temporarily. in the same breath (esp. of saying two contradictory things) within a short time. out of breath gasping for air, esp. after exercise. take breath pause for rest. take one's breath away astound; surprise; awe; delight. waste one's breath talk or give advice without effect.
Etymology
OE br{aelig}th f. Gmc
THESAURUS
Breath
Aqua-Lung, a breath, afterdamp, amaze, anima, anima humana, animating force, aroma, artificial respiration, aspiration, asthmatic wheeze, astonish, astound, atman, ba, bated breath, bathmism, beating heart, biological clock, biorhythm, bit, blackdamp, blood, blow, break, breath of air, breath of life, breather, breathing, breathing place, breathing space, breathing spell, breathing time, breathy voice, breeze, broken wind, brush, buddhi, capful of wind, caress, chokedamp, cigarette break, cloud, cocktail hour, coffee break, contact, cough, coup, crack, cutaneous sense, damp, dash, dazzle, definite odor, detectable odor, divine breath, divine spark, downtime, effluvium, ego, elan vital, emanation, enforced respite, essence, essence of life, exhalation, expiration, exsufflation, feel, feeling, fetid air, fingertip caress, firedamp, flash, flatus, flavor, flick, fluid, force of life, fragrance, fume, gasp, glance, graze, growth force, gulp, gust, hack, half a jiffy, half a mo, half a second, half a shake, halt, hand-mindedness, happy hour, heart, heartbeat, heartblood, hiccup, hint, impulse of life, indication, inhalation, inhalator, inner man, inspiration, inspiriting force, instant, insufflation, interlude, intermission, iron lung, jiff, jiffy, jiva, jivatma, khu, kiss, lambency, lap, letup, lick, life breath, life cycle, life essence, life force, life principle, life process, lifeblood, light touch, little, little bit, little voice, little while, living force, low voice, lull, malaria, manes, mephitis, miasma, microsecond, millisecond, mind, minute, moment, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, mumble, mumbling, murmur, murmuration, murmuring, mutter, muttering, nephesh, no time, odor, oxygen mask, oxygen tent, pair of winks, pant, pause, pneuma, prana, psyche, puff, puff of air, puff of smoke, puff of wind, purusha, recess, redolence, reek, respiration, respite, rest, ruach, rub, savor, scent, scuba, seat of life, sec, second, sense of touch, shade, shadow, shake, shock, short spell, short time, sigh, small space, smell, smoke, smudge, sneeze, sniff, sniffle, snore, snoring, snuff, snuffle, soft voice, soul, soupcon, span, spark of life, spell, spirit, spiritual being, spiritus, split second, spoor, spurt, stage whisper, stagger, startle, stay, steam, stench, sternutation, stertor, still small voice, stir, stir of air, stirring, streak, stroke, subtle odor, suggestion, surcease, surprise, suspension, suspicion, suspiration, susurration, susurrus, tactile sense, taction, tap, tea break, ten, tentative poke, the self, tick, time out, touch, trace, trail, trice, twink, twinkle, twinkling, twitch, two shakes, underbreath, undertone, vapor, vis vitae, vis vitalis, vital energy, vital flame, vital fluid, vital force, vital principle, vital spark, vital spirit, volatile, waft, water vapor, wheeze, whiff, whiffet, whisper, whispering, wind, wink, zephyrROGET THESAURUS
Breath
Instantaneity
N instantaneity, instantaneousness, immediacy, suddenness, abruptness, moment, instant, second, minute, twinkling, trice, flash, breath, crack, jiffy, coup, burst, flash of lightning, stroke of time, epoch, time, time of day, time of night, hour, minute, very minute, very time, very hour, present time, right time, true time, exact correct time, instantaneous, momentary, sudden, immediate, instant, abrupt, discontinuous, precipitous, precipitant, precipitate, subitaneous, hasty, quick as thought, quick as lightning, quick as a flash, rapid as electricity, speedy, quick, fast, fleet, swift, lively, blitz, rapid (velocity), instantaneously, in no time, in less than no time, presto, subito, instanter, suddenly, at a stroke, like a shot, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, in the twinkling of an eye, in a trice, in one's tracks, right away, toute a l'heure, at one jump, in the same breath, per saltum, uno saltu, at once, all at once, plump, slap, at one fell swoop, at the same instant, immediately, extempore, on the moment, on the spot, on the spur of the moment, no sooner said than done, just then, slap-dash, touch and go, no sooner said than done.Wind
N wind, draught, flatus, afflatus, efflation, eluvium, air, breath, breath of air, puff, whiff, zephyr, blow, breeze, drift, aura, stream, current, jet stream, undercurrent, gust, blast, squall, gale, half a gale, storm, tempest, hurricane, whirlwind, tornado, samiel, cyclone, anticyclone, typhoon, simoon, simoom, harmattan, monsoon, trade wind, sirocco, mistral, bise, tramontane, levanter, capful of wind, fresh breeze, stiff breeze, keen blast, blizzard, barber, candelia, chinook, foehn, khamsin, norther, vendaval, wuther, windiness, ventosity, rough weather, dirty weather, ugly weather, stress of weather, dirty sky, mare's tail, thick squall, black squall, white squall, anemography, aerodynamics, wind gauge, weathercock, vane, weather- vane, wind sock, anemometer, anemoscope, sufflation, insufflation, perflation, inflation, afflation, blowing, fanning, ventilation, sneezing, errhine, sternutative, sternutatory, sternutation, hiccup, hiccough, catching of the breath, Eolus, Boreas, Zephyr, cave of Eolus, air pump, air blower, lungs, bellows, blowpipe, fan, ventilator, punkah, branchiae, gills, flabellum, vertilabrum, whiffle ball, blowing, windy, flatulent, breezy, gusty, squally, stormy, tempestuous, blustering, boisterous, pulmonic, pulmonary, lull'd by soft zephyrs, the storm is up and all is on the hazard, the winds were wither'd in the stagnant air, while mocking winds are piping loud, winged with red lightning and tempestuous rage.Animality
N animality, animal life, animation, animality, animalization, animalness, corporeal nature, human system, breath, flesh, flesh and blood, physique, strength, fleshly, human, corporeal.Faintness
N faintness, faint sound, whisper, breath, undertone, underbreath, murmur, hum, susurration, tinkle, still small voice, hoarseness, raucity, inaudible, scarcely audible, just audible, low, dull, stifled, muffled, hoarse, husky, gentle, soft, faint, floating, purling, flowing, whispered, liquid, soothing, dulcet, susurrant, susurrous, in a whisper, with bated breath, sotto voce, between the teeth, aside, piano, pianissimo, d la sourdine, out of earshot inaudibly, (ii) SPECIFIC SOUNDS.Also see definition of "Breath" in Bible Study Dictionaries
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