transpire

Where does the word "transpire" come from? It comes from Latin spirare, passing through Latin before entering English (1600s).

Transpire’s story begins in Latin: spirare meant “to breathe.” To breathe, combined with trans- (across). Within Latin, it grew into transpirare by ancient. To breathe across, to emit through pores, from trans- and spirare. It reached English by 1600s as transpire. Settled as the English word for becoming known, or emitting vapor through pores. Today, transpire means to become known or happen, or for a plant to release water vapor through its leaves.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient spirare "to breathe", to breathe, combined with trans- (across).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient transpirare "to breathe across, to emit through pores", to breathe across, to emit through pores, from trans- and spirare.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s transpire "to become known, or to emit vapor through pores", settled as the English word for becoming known, or emitting vapor through pores.