Now rare. [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. Shaks., 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 Suspiratious, Suspirative 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.
