suspire

[suh-spahyuhr]

verb (used without object)

suspired, suspiring 

1. to sigh.

2. to breathe.

verb (used with object)

suspired, suspiring 

1. to sigh; utter with long, sighing breaths.

suspire

/ ˌsʌspɪˈreɪʃən, səˈspaɪə /

verb

1. to sigh or utter with a sigh; yearn

2. (intr) to breathe; respire

Other Word Forms

• suspiration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of suspire¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin suspīrāre, equivalent to su- su- + spīrāre to breathe

Word History and Origins

Origin of suspire¹

C15: from Latin suspīrāre to take a deep breath, from _sub- + spīrāre to breathe

Example Sentences

I flashed back to Marilyn Monroe on another May night in Gotham, doing similar mincing steps in a similar shimmering dress she was sewn into, when she suspired “Happy Birthday” to J.F.K.

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But at four o'clock there was a rim, A circled edge of rainbow color Which suspired, widened and narrowed under your gaze: It was the phantasy of straining eyes, Or land—and it was land.

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Now the New Year reviving old Desires, The Artist poor to Calendars aspires, But of the Stuff the Publisher puts out Most in the Paper Basket soon suspires.

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As he jumped, the girl, Alexa, started, and a cry escaped her parted lips; it was a sigh rather than an exclamation, the voice of a crushed flower suspiring its last vital breath.

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"But times are bad!" he would suspire in moments of depression.

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Related Words

• cry 
• exhale 
• gasp 
• groan 
• howl 
• moan 
• murmur 
• sob 
• whisper 
• whistle