Etymology From Middle English respiren, borrowed from Old French respirer or Latin respīrō (“to blow back, breathe out”), from re- (“back”) + spīrō (“to breathe, blow”).
1
To breathe in and out successively.
2
To recover one's breath or breathe easily following stress.
The breath of heav'n fresh-blowing, pure and sweet, / With day-spring born; here leave me to respire.1671, John Milton, Samson Agonistes, lines 10–11:
Second Day.—Hold the breath five seconds. Respire, and hold the breath ten seconds. Respire, and hold the breath fifteen seconds.1888, Edmund Shaftesbury, Lessons in Artistic Deep Breathing for Strengthening the Voice, page 23:
3
Biology, Cytology, Medicine, Natural sciences, Sciences To take up oxygen and produce carbon dioxide (as animals do), or vice versa (as plants do).
All living things respire or breathe. To many of us this means that they take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide.1964, H. Webb, M. A. Grigg, Modern Science, Book 3, page 155:
4
To (inhale and) exhale; to breathe.
It is my opinion, that these animals, while they continue in the state of larvae, respire water and not air; and that they inspire the water, not by the mask, but by their posterior part, through which also they discharge it.1799, M. Lesser, Insecto-Theology: Or, a Demonstration of the Being and Perfections of God, from a Consideration of the Structure and Economy of Insects, page 327:
They were the last moments he might ever respire near her, who was then doubtless wrapt in peaceful sleep, whilst he wandered distracted without.1838, [Letitia Elizabeth] Landon (indicated as editor), chapter XI, in Duty and Inclination: […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 139:
5
Archaic To recover hope, courage, or strength after a time of difficulty.
Etymology From Middle English respiren, borrowed from Old French respirer or Latin respīrō (“to blow back, breathe out”), from re- (“back”) + spīrō (“to breathe, blow”).
He cast to suffer him no more respire, But gan his sturdie sterne about to weld, And him so strongly stroke, that to the ground him feld.1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto XI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page 162: