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spiritus asper

American  
[spir-i-tuhs as-per, spee-ri-toos ahs-per] / ˈspɪr ɪ təs ˈæs pər, ˈspi rɪ tʊs ˈɑs pɛr /

spiritus asper British  
/ ˈspɪrɪtəs ˈæspə /

noun

  1. another term for rough breathing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of spiritus asper

From Late Latin spīritus asper

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This latter is the so-called spiritus asper, because the emission of unvocalized breath which precedes phonation gives an aspirated or h sound, so that, instead of ah, we hear haa.

From The Voice Its Production, Care and Preservation by Miller, Frank E.

The spiritus asper is caused by a too slow contraction of the vocal cords and their too gradual approach for phonation.

From The Voice Its Production, Care and Preservation by Miller, Frank E.