Where does “respiration” come from?
Respiration comes from Middle English respiracioun, from Latin respiratio, a noun formation from Latin re- (again) and spirare (to breathe), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European (s)peys-.
respiration (English): The process of inhaling and exhaling; breathing,...
Definitions
- The process of inhaling and exhaling; breathing,...
Ancestry of “respiration”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | respiracioun | — |
| 2 | Latin | respiratio | exhaling; breathing, respiration |
| 3 | Latin | respīrō | to blow or breathe back; to breathe out, exhale |
| 4 | Latin | rĕ- | back, backwards |
| 5 | Latin | prōdūcō | to lead or bring forth, forward or out |
| 6 | Latin | prō- | forward direction, forward movement |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | *pro- | pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |