arch. [a. Fr. anhélation, ad. L. anhēlātiōn-em, f. anhēlā-re: see next.]
1. A breathing with difficulty, panting; shortness of breath, asthma.
1623. Cockeram, Anhelation, the Tissique.
1655. Culpepper, Riverius, VII. i. 148. In a Dispnœa, the breath is thick, without noise or anhelation.
1794. Paley, Nat. Theol., x. § 5 (1819), 159. In a city-feast, for example, what deglutition, what anhelation!
1839. Hooper, Med. Dict., 547. A permanent difficulty of breathing or anhelation.
2. fig. Panting, aspiration (after an object of desire).
a. 1631. Donne, Serm., vii. 73. Our Anhelation and panting after the Joyes of the Kingdom of Heaven.
1695. Blackmore, Pr. Arth., I. 903. When his exhaling Soul to Heav’n aspires, In sacred Anhelations, and inflam’d Desires.
