Etymology
Advertisement

aspiration (n.1)

late 14c., aspiracioun, "a spirant;" 1530s as "action of breathing into," from Latin aspirationem (nominative aspiratio) "a breathing on, a blowing upon; rough breathing; influence," noun of action from past-participle stem of aspirare "strive for, seek to reach," literally "breathe at, blow upon" (see aspire). The meaning "steadfast longing for a higher goal, earnest desire for something above one" is recorded from c. 1600 (sometimes collectively, as aspirations).

aspiration (n.2)

late 14c., "action of aspirating, a spirant letter or sound," noun of action from aspirate (v.).

Entries linking to aspiration

aspire (v.)

"strive for, seek eagerly to attain, long to reach," c. 1400, aspiren, from Old French aspirer "aspire to; inspire; breathe, breathe on" (12c.), from Latin aspirare "to breathe upon, blow upon, to breathe," also, in transferred senses, "to be favorable to, assist; to climb up to, to endeavor to obtain, to reach to, to seek to reach; infuse," from ad "to" (see ad-) + spirare "to breathe" (see spirit (n.)).

The notion is of "panting with desire," or perhaps of rising smoke. The literal sense of "breathe, exhale" (1530s) is rare in English. Related: Aspired; aspiring.

aspirate (v.)
"to pronounce with audible breath," 1660s (implied in aspirated); perhaps a back-formation from aspiration (n.2), or from French aspirer or directly from Latin aspiratus, past participle of aspirare "breathe at, blow upon" (see aspire). Related: Aspirating.
aspirational (adj.)
"characterized by steadfast desire for a higher position," 1860, from aspiration (n.1) + -al (1). Earlier adjectives were aspirant "aspiring, ambitious" (1814); aspiring "animated by ardent desire" (1570s).

updated on September 27, 2022

Advertisement
Advertisement
Definitions of aspiration from WordNet

aspiration (n.)
a will to succeed;
aspiration (n.)
a cherished desire;
Synonyms: ambition / dream
aspiration (n.)
a manner of articulation involving an audible release of breath;
aspiration (n.)
the act of inhaling; the drawing in of air (or other gases) as in breathing;
Synonyms: inhalation / inspiration / intake / breathing in
Etymologies are not definitions. From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near aspiration

asphyxiate

asphyxiation

aspic

aspirant

aspirate

aspiration

aspirational

aspirator

aspire

aspirin

asportation

© 2001-2022 Douglas Harper