'Respire' is Latin for 'breathe again' — catching your breath after exertion. Recovery in a word.
To breathe; to carry out the process of respiration; to recover hope, courage, or strength after hardship.
From Latin 'respirāre' (to breathe again, to breathe freely), composed of 're-' (again, repeatedly) and 'spīrāre' (to breathe, to blow). The PIE root is *sp(h)eys- or possibly connects to *pnew- (to breathe, to blow), though the exact PIE antecedent of 'spīrāre' is debated among scholars. Latin 'spīritus' (breath, life, soul) derives from the same verb, giving
The word 'respite' — a rest or pause — is a sibling of 'respire,' both from Latin 'respīrāre.' A 'respite' was originally a breathing-space, a pause in which one could catch one's breath. The connection is preserved in the phrase 'a breath of fresh air' for a welcome change or relief. The entire concept
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