spiritus lenis

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]