Breathing \Breath"ing\, n.
   1. Respiration; the act of inhaling and exhaling air.
      
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            Subject to a difficulty of breathing. --Melmoth.
      
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   2. Air in gentle motion.
      
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   3. Any gentle influence or operation; inspiration; as, the
      breathings of the Spirit.
      
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   4. Aspiration; secret prayer. "Earnest desires and breathings
      after that blessed state." --Tillotson.
      
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   5. Exercising; promotion of respiration.
      
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            Here is a lady that wants breathing too;
            And I have heard, you knights of Tyre
            Are excellent in making ladies trip.  --Shak.
      
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   6. Utterance; communication or publicity by words.
      
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            I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose. --Shak.
      
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   7. Breathing place; vent. --Dryden.
      
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   8. Stop; pause; delay.
      
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            You shake the head at so long a breathing. --Shak.
      
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   9. Also, in a wider sense, the sound caused by the friction
      of the outgoing breath in the throat, mouth, etc., when
      the glottis is wide open; aspiration; the sound expressed
      by the letter h.
      
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   10. (Gr. Gram.) A mark to indicate aspiration or its absence.
       See {Rough breathing}, {Smooth breathing}, below.
       
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   {Breathing place}.
       (a) A pause. "That c[ae]sura, or breathing place, in the
           midst of the verse." --Sir P. Sidney.
       (b) A vent.

   {Breathing time}, pause; relaxation. --Bp. Hall.

   {Breathing while}, time sufficient for drawing breath; a
      short time. --Shak.

   {Rough breathing} ({spiritus asper}) ([spasp]). See 2d
      {Asper}, n.

   {Smooth breathing} ({spiritus lenis}), a mark (') indicating
      the absence of the sound of h, as in 'ie`nai (ienai).
      
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