suspīrĭum, ii, n. [suspiro], a deep breath, a sighing, sigh.
- I. Lit. (class.): suspirium alte petere, Plaut. Cist. 1, 1, 58: traxit ex intimo ventre, id. Truc. 2, 7, 41: crebrum suspirium, Col. 6, 14, 2: si quis est in rerum naturā sine sollicitudine, sine suspirio, * Cic. Tusc. 4, 34, 72: idque ab exercitu cum suspirio videretur, Spart. Pers. 11.
Plur.: quos numquam pungunt suspiria, Prop. 3, 8 (4, 7), 27: repetere, Tib. 3, 6, 61: ducere, Ov. M. 1, 656: ducere ab imo Pectore, id. ib. 10, 402; 2, 125; 2, 774; 9, 537: cessant, Mart. 10, 13, 19.
Of animals, Mart. 1, 110, 9.
- B. As a disease, shortness of breath, asthma (post-Aug. and very rare): morbus, qui satis apte dici suspirium potest, Sen. Ep. 54, 1: suspirio laborare, Col. 7, 5 fin.; Veg. Vet. 1, 10 fin.; 1, 38, 4.
- II. Transf., in gen., a breathing, breath, respiration (in post-Aug. poetry): nec dat suspiria cursus Vulneris, Luc. 9, 928; 4, 328; Sil. 11, 221.