[f. L. aspīrāt- ppl. stem of aspīrāre: see prec. Cf. F. aspirer.]

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  1.  trans. To pronounce with a breathing; to add an audible effect of the breath to any sound; to prefix H to a vowel, or add H or its supposed equivalent to a consonant sound. Also absol.

2

1697.  Dryden, Ded. Æneis (1721), 412 (J.). Our W and H aspirate.

3

1706.  Phillips, Aspirate, to pronounce with an Aspiration.

4

1801.  Mar. Edgeworth, Irish Bulls, xi. (1832), 226. Londoners [are] always aspirating where they should not, and never aspirating where they should.

5

1877.  Lytteil, Landmarks, I. iv. 33. The Celts have aspirated the letter m in gumi.

6

  2.  trans. To draw out a gas or vapor from a vessel; cf. ASPIRATOR, a, b.

7

1880.  Nature, 447/1. He proposes to aspirate the vapours of the chambers through metal tubes.

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