| v. t. 1. To inhale and exhale in the process of respiration; to respire. [ 1913 Webster ] To view the light of heaven, and breathe the vital air. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. To inject by breathing; to infuse; -- with into. [ 1913 Webster ] Able to breathe life into a stone. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. Gen. ii. 7. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. To emit or utter by the breath; to utter softly; to whisper; as, to breathe a vow. [ 1913 Webster ] He softly breathed thy name. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ] Or let the church, our mother, breathe her curse,
A mother's curse, on her revolting son. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. To exhale; to emit, as breath; as, the flowers breathe odors or perfumes. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. To express; to manifest; to give forth. [ 1913 Webster ] Others articles breathe the same severe spirit. Milner. [ 1913 Webster ] 6. To act upon by the breath; to cause to sound by breathing. “They breathe the flute.” Prior. [ 1913 Webster ] 7. To promote free respiration in; to exercise. [ 1913 Webster ] And every man should beat thee. I think thou wast created for men to breathe themselves upon thee. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 8. To suffer to take breath, or recover the natural breathing; to rest; as, to breathe a horse. [ 1913 Webster ] A moment breathed his panting steed. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ] 9. To put out of breath; to exhaust. [ 1913 Webster ] Mr. Tulkinghorn arrives in his turret room, a little breathed by the journey up. Dickens. [ 1913 Webster ] 10. (Phonetics) To utter without vocality, as the nonvocal consonants. [ 1913 Webster ] The same sound may be pronounces either breathed, voiced, or whispered. H. Sweet. [ 1913 Webster ] Breathed elements, being already voiceless, remain unchanged [ in whispering ]. H. Sweet. [ 1913 Webster ]
To breathe again, to take breath; to feel a sense of relief, as from danger, responsibility, or press of business. --
To breathe one's last, to die; to expire. --
To breathe a vein, to open a vein; to let blood. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]
| 
