breather etymology

Etymology

The word "breather" has two distinct etymologies:

• Old English: "breðere" (comparative "bræðra"), from Proto-Germanic *brōðrō- ("brother"). This sense of "breather" is archaic and means "one who shares a mother."

• Middle English: "brether" (verb), from Old English "brēþan" ("to breathe"). This sense of "breather" is related to the word "breath" and refers to someone who inhales and exhales.

Meaning and Origin

1. Brother (archaic)

• Origin: Old English "breðere"
• Meaning: One who shares a mother

This sense of "breather" is now obsolete and is mostly encountered in historical texts. It was commonly used to refer to a male sibling or a member of a religious order.

2. Person who breathes (modern)

• Origin: Middle English "brether" (verb)
• Meaning: One who inhales and exhales; a living being

This is the most common sense of "breather" today. It refers to any organism that requires oxygen to survive, including humans, animals, and plants.

Additional Meanings:

• Temporary rest or break: A short period of time taken to recover or relax.
• Device for providing oxygen: A medical device that assists in breathing.
• Informal term for a cigarette: A colloquialism used to describe a smoking break.

breather relate terms

• breathe

  Etymology The word breathe comes from the Middle English word brethen which is deri

• breath

  Etymology The word breath comes from the Old English word bræþ which is derived fr

• breath

  Etymology The word breath comes from the Old English word bræþ which is derived fr

• snorkel

  Etymology Old English snorcelian snorcelan Origin Proto Germanic snurklijaną a de

• mouth

  Etymology The word mouth comes from the Old English word mūþ which is believed to

• Bertha

  Etymology Old High German beraht bright famous Proto Germanic berhtaz bright

• rest

  Etymology The word rest originates from the Old English word restan which means to

• about

  Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words It involves tracing

• respite

  Etymology of Respite The word respite comes from the Latin word respicere meaning t

• submarine

  Etymology The word submarine originated from the Latin prefix sub under and the nou

• relief

  Etymology Latin relevare meaning to lighten ease lift Ancient Greek analeipsis