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spirare

to expire, to die; to blow (of wind)

verb spee-RAH-reh Rare
Body & Health Health & Illness

Origin: Latin spirare (to breathe).

Also means

to breathe one's last

Usage Note

Spirare has two distinct registers: literary/elevated, meaning to breathe one's last or to die (spirò all'alba, he breathed his last at dawn), and meteorological, meaning for the wind to blow (spira una brezza leggera, a light breeze is blowing). It takes essere as its auxiliary when used intransitively for dying, and avere for the wind sense. Do not confuse with espirare (to exhale).

Examples

"Una brezza leggera spira dal mare."

Natural Translation

A light breeze blows from the sea.

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