aspir

a. [ Cf. F. aspirant, p. pr. of aspirer. See Aspire. ] Aspiring. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A sound consisting of, or characterized by, a breath like the sound of h; the breathing h or a character representing such a sound; an aspirated sound. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A mark of aspiration (&asper_;) used in Greek; the asper, or rough breathing. Bentley. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An elementary sound produced by the breath alone; a surd, or nonvocal consonant; as, f, th in thin, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Aspirated p. pr. & vb. n. Aspirating ] [ L. aspiratus, p. p. of aspirare to breathe toward or upon, to add the breathing h; ad + spirare to breathe, blow. Cf. Aspire. ] To pronounce with a breathing, an aspirate, or an h sound; as, we aspirate the words horse and house; to aspirate a vowel or a liquid consonant. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. aspiratus, p. p. ] Pronounced with the h sound or with audible breath. [ 1913 Webster ]

But yet they are not aspirate, i. e., with such an aspiration as h. Holder. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. aspiratio, fr. aspirare: cf. F. aspiration. ] 1. The act of aspirating; the pronunciation of a letter with a full or strong emission of breath; an aspirated sound. [ 1913 Webster ]

If aspiration be defined to be an impetus of breathing. Wilkins. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of breathing; a breath; an inspiration. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The act of aspiring of a ardently desiring; strong wish; high desire. “Aspirations after virtue.” Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Vague aspiration after military renown. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Chem.) An apparatus for passing air or gases through or over certain liquids or solids, or for exhausting a closed vessel, by means of suction. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) An instrument for the evacuation of the fluid contents of tumors or collections of blood. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to breathing; suited to the inhaling of air [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Aspired p. pr. & vb. n. Aspiring. ] [ F. aspirer, L. aspirare. See Aspirate, v. t. ] 1. To desire with eagerness; to seek to attain something high or great; to pant; to long; -- followed by to or after, and rarely by at; as, to aspire to a crown; to aspire after immorality. [ 1913 Webster ]

Aspiring to be gods, if angels fell;
Aspiring to be angels, men rebel. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To rise; to ascend; to tower; to soar. [ 1913 Webster ]

My own breath still foments the fire,
Which flames as high as fancy can aspire. Waller. [ 1913 Webster ]