breathe Copy link Outline A. Intrans.I. To respire, be alive1. spīro, 12. respīro, 1 those who are sunk in water cannot b., qui demersi sunt in aqua r. non possunt, Cic.II. To pause, restB. Trans.I. To draw into and expel from the lungsII. To exhale (q. v.)III. To express, manifest (q. v.)1. ănhēlo, 1 (implying violence)2. spīro, 1 to b. war, bellum s., Lucr.IV. To utter softly • breathe: A. Intrans.: I. To respire, be alive: 1. spīro, 1: they cannot even b. without fear, ne s. quidem sine metu possunt, Cic.: Catiline was found still b.ing a little, Catilina repertus est, paululum etiam spirans, Sall. Fig.: the mind of Laelius seems to be still b.ing in his writings, videtur Laelii mens s. etiam in scriptis, Cic.: the b.ing (i. e. life-like) statues, spirantia signa, Virg. 2. respīro, 1 those who are sunk in water cannot b., qui demersi sunt in aqua r. non possunt, Cic.: power to b., respirare potestas, Virg.: Juv. Phr.: to b., spiritum ducere, animam spiritu ducere, Cic.; spiritum trahere, Phaedr. II. To pause, rest: v. to breathe again. B. Trans.: I. To draw into and expel from the lungs: Phr.: we b. the air, aërem spiritu ducimus, Cic.: the wind-pipe b.s back the air from the lungs, aspera arteria animam a pulmonibus r., Cic.: could I any longer b. the common air? auram communem haurire amplius potui? Quint.. to b. the vital air, auras vitales carpere, Virg. II. To exhale (q. v.): spīro, 1: her locks b.'d a divine odour, comae divinum odorem spiravere, Virg. III. To express, manifest (q. v.): 1. ănhēlo, 1 (implying violence): to b. out wickedness, scelus an., Cic. 2. spīro, 1 to b. war, bellum s., Lucr.: to b. love, amores s., Hor. IV. To utter softly: v. to whisper.