BREATH, noun breth. 1. The air inhaled and expelled in the respiration of animals. 2. Life. No man has more contempt than I of breath 3. The state or power of breathing freely; opposed to a state of exhaustion from violent action; as, I am out of breath; I am scarce in breath 4. Respite; pause; time to breathe; as, let me take breath; give me some breath 5. Breeze; aid in gentle motion. Calm and unruffled as a summer's sea, When not a breath of wind flies o'er its surface. 6. A single respiration; as, he swears at every breath 7. An instant; the time of a single respiration; a single act. He smiles and he frowns in a breath 8. A word. A breath can make them, as a breath has made.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI