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suspiro

Etymology and origin of the Latin word suspiro

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (spīrō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [sʊsˈpiː.roː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [susˈpiː.ro][1]

Forms

suspīrō (present infinitive suspīrāre, perfect active suspīrāvī, supine suspīrātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from sub- “under, up from below” and spīrō “to breathe”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of sighing in distress.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to sigh in grief or regret, from Lucretius in love, in someone, and in Tibullus to utter with a sigh or sigh for someone absent.[2][5] In Cicero it meant to draw breath, and in Apuleius of natural forces to breathe out, exhale.[2] Döderlein explains that suspīrāre is the deep breath of a troubled heart, while gemere, to groan, is more voluntary.[6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to sigh, and to long for.[7] It survives in Italian sospirare, French soupirer and Spanish suspirar, and English suspire came about 1500.[1][3] Old French sospiral from it gave English suspiral “a vent”, which may lie behind English cesspool.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of sighing.[2][4]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of lovesick sighing.[2][4]
  • c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of exhaling.[2][4]
  • c. 1500 – English suspire is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To sigh; to sigh for.[2]
  2. To draw breath.[2]
  3. To breathe out, exhale.[2]

Word family

  • assuspiro
  • suspīrātiō
  • suspīrātus
  • suspīritus
  • suspīrium

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from gemō, a groan that is more voluntary.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Suspiro.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/suspiro. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·