Perspire
/pərˈspaɪər/noun
To excrete moisture through the skin; to sweat.
Did you know?Perspire comes from Latin *perspirare*, and its older sense was “to breathe through” or “emit vapors,” which is why it feels so closely tied to invisible forces moving through the body.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
perspirare
“to breathe through; to emit vapors”
Late Latin
Latin
perspirare
“to exhale or give off moisture”
16th Century
English
perspire
“to exhale moisture through the pores; to sweat”
Modern English
English
perspire
“to sweat”