Breathing

Verb

1. Present participle of breathe

Full definition of breathing

Noun

1. The act of respiration; a single instance of this.
2. A diacritical mark indicating aspiration or lack thereof.
3. (archaic) Time to recover one's breath; hence, a delay, a spell of time.
• 1599, William Shakespeare, ,DON PEDRO. Count Claudio, when mean you to go to church?CLAUDIO. To-morrow, my lord. Time goes on crutches till love have all his rites.LEONATO. Not till Monday, my dear son, which is hence a just seven-night; and a time too brief too, to have all things answer my mind.DON PEDRO. Come, you shake the head at so long a breathing; but, I warrant thee, Claudio, the time shall not go dully by us.
4. Any gentle influence or operation; inspiration.the breathings of the Holy Spirit
5. Aspiration; secret prayer.
• Tillotsonearnest desires and breathings after that blessed state