1387, from O.Fr. respirer, from L. respirare "breathe again, breathe in and out," from re- "again" + spirare "to breathe" (see spirit). Respiration is recorded from c.1430. Respirator is first attested 1836, invented by Julius Jeffreys.
Main Entry: re·spire Pronunciation: ri-'spI(&)r Function: verb Inflected Forms: re·spired; re·spir·ing intransitive senses 1:BREATHE; specifically: to inhale and exhale airsuccessively 2of a cell or tissue: to take up oxygen and produce carbon dioxide through oxidation respiretransitive senses :BREATHE