perspiration
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Etymology
Borrowed from late Middle French perspiration, from perspirer (“perspire”), from Latin perspirare (“to blow or breathe constantly”), from per (“through”) + spirare (“to breathe, blow”) Morphologically perspire + -ation
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌpɜːspəˈɹeɪʃən/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˌpɝspəˈɹeɪʃən/
Audio (Canada): (file) - Rhymes: -eɪʃən
- Hyphenation: per‧spi‧ra‧tion
Noun
perspiration (usually uncountable, plural perspirations)
- The action or process of perspiring.
- 1627, Francis Bacon, Sylva Sylvarum: or, A Naturall Historie, London: W. Lee, Cent. VII, section 680, page 170:
- The Cauſe may be Want of Perſpiration : For Much of the Matter of Haire, in the other Parts of the Body, goeth forth by Inſenſible Perſpiration ; And beſides, the Skull being of a more ſolide Subſtance, nouriſheth and aſſimilateth leſſe, and excerneth more.
- 1627, Francis Bacon, Sylva Sylvarum: or, A Naturall Historie, London: W. Lee, Cent. VII, section 680, page 170:
- (by extension) Hard work.
- 1910, Frank Lewis Dyer, Thomas Commerford Martin, quoting Thomas Edison, Edison: His Life and Inventions, volume II, New York: Harper & Brothers, page 607:
- Genius is 1 per cent. inspiration and 99 per cent. perspiration.
- Sweat (fluid).
- 1897, Marie Corelli, “Chapter II”, in Ziska: The Problem of a Wicked Soul, New York: Stone & Kimball, page 58:
- Passing his hand across his forehead he withdrew it, wet with drops of perspiration.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
process of perspiring
|
sweat — see sweat
Pronunciation
Audio: (file)
Noun
perspiration f (plural perspirations)
Further reading
- “perspiration”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
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