suspiration Now rare.
(sʌspɪˈreɪʃən)
[ad. L. suspīrātio, -ōnem, n. of action f. suspīrāre to suspire.]
1. Sighing; a sigh.
| c 1485 Digby Myst., Christ's Burial 64 O day off suspiratione! Which Iewes shall repent! 1503 Hawes Examp. Virt. vii. 115 Peas bytwene the faders hyghenes Of heuen and vs in suspyracyon. a 1639 Wotton Panegyr. to K. Charles in Reliq. (1651) 136 To have solicited her sister with these panting suspirations. 1641 Brome Joviall Crew iv. i. Wks. 1873 III. 420 Ods my life! He sighs again:..Give him more Sack, to drown his Suspirations. 1664 H. More Myst. Iniq. xii. 40 The devout whispers or suspirations of her affectionate Supplicants. 1786 Francis the Philanthropist III. 91 Her lip trembled with suspiration. 1820 Scott Monast. xvi, I may well heave such a suspiration. 1867 Swinburne Ess. & Stud. (1875) 128 We have had evidences of religion, aspirations and suspirations of all kinds. |
2. (Deep) breathing; breath; a (deep) breath.
| 1602 Shakes. Ham. i. ii. 79 Nor Customary suites of solemne Blacke, Nor windy suspiration of forc'd breath. 1607 Dekker Whore of Babylon Wks. 1873 II. 193 The nations, Who suspiration draw out of this aire. 1634 S. R. Noble Soldier iii. i. in Bullen O. Pl. (1882) I. 289 We from one climate Drew suspiration. 1892 Ld. Lytton King Poppy 121 Its meadowy dales A thousand fragrant suspirations fill'd With incense. 1905 Westm. Gaz. 16 Feb. 2/1 The ocean..smooth as glass, without even a suspiration to break the deadly monotony of its surface. |
Hence suspiˈratious, ˈsuspirative adjs., sighing.
| 1824 Galt Rothelan II. v. ix. 254 A suspiratious flowing of briny tears. 1872 Browning Fifine lxi, Not feebly, like our phrase, against the barrier go In suspirative swell the authentic notes I know. |