respire

Where does the word "respire" come from? It comes from Latin respirare, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Respire’s story begins in Latin: respirare meant “to breathe again.” To breathe again, from re- (again) and spirare (to breathe). It reached English by 1400s as respire. Settled as the English word for breathing. Today, respire means to breathe.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient respirare "to breathe again", to breathe again, from re- (again) and spirare (to breathe).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s respire "to breathe", settled as the English word for breathing.