spir

breathe

Quick Summary

The Latin root word spir means “breathe.” This root is the word origin of a fair number of English vocabulary words, including inspire, respiration, and expire. The root spir is easily recalled via the word perspiration, that is, sweat in the act of “breathing” through the pores of your skin.

Breathe Easy with "Spir"

The Latin root word spir means “breathe.” This podcast will give you the inspiration you need to “breathe” knowledge into the reading of words with the root spir in them!

Did you know that the blowhole of a whale is called its spiracle, the aperture through which the whale “breathes?” The spiracle aids in the respiration of the whale, that is, its “breathing” in and out and back again. Of course, when a whale expires, hopefully due to a ripe old age, it has “breathed” out its last “breath.”

When you have an inspiration, an idea is “breathed” into your mind. Say that the idea may make you rich; it will nevertheless more than likely require a great deal of perspiration on your part, or that sweat “breathing” through the pores of your skin, to bring about that vast wealth. If you work hard enough, the idea may become reality or transpire, that is, “breathe” across from not being done to occurring for real.

Your inspiration may require a conspiracy to bring it about, or a “breathing” together of a group of people while hatching a plot of some sort. Your group might indeed need to conspire or “breathe” together if your aspiration, or “breathing” towards a goal of some kind, was to have every Twinkie in the world for yourselves! If you work hard as you aspire to or “breathe” towards that goal, you might very well reach it.

I hope that this podcast has spearheaded the way towards a knowledge of spir, having provided you with the inspiration to meet words with spir in them head on!

  1. spiracle: blowhole through which a whale “breathes”
  2. respiration: “breathing” in and out, again and again
  3. expire: to “breathe” out one’s last “breath” (n.b. an x=ks)
  4. inspiration: a “breathing” into one’s mind of a good idea
  5. perspiration: the act of sweat “breathing” through the skin’s pores
  6. transpire: to “breathe” across into happening
  7. conspiracy: a group “breathing” together to hatch a plot of some sort
  8. conspire: to “breathe” together
  9. aspiration: the act of “breathing” towards a particular goal
  10. aspire: to “breathe” towards a set goal

Usage

  • aspirate

    When you aspirate something, you draw out fluids by means of suction or you draw in air by inhaling it.

  • aspiration

    An aspiration is a personal goal or ambition that you want to achieve.

  • aspire

    When you aspire to do something, you greatly desire to do it; therefore, you work hard to achieve it.

  • inspire

    If someone inspires you, they make you want to do something, such as be a better person, do something creative, or be like them in a good way.

  • aspirant

    desiring or striving for recognition or advancement

  • conspiracy

    a secret agreement between two or more people to perform an unlawful act

  • conspirator

    a member of a conspiracy

  • conspiratorial

    relating to or characteristic of conspiracy or conspirators

  • conspire

    engage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy, swear together

  • dispirited

    marked by low spirits

  • inspiration

    arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity

  • inspirit

    infuse with spirit

  • perspiration

    salty fluid secreted by sweat glands

  • perspire

    excrete perspiration through the pores in the skin

  • respiration

    the metabolic processes whereby certain organisms obtain energy from organic molecules

  • respiratory

    pertaining to respiration

  • respire

    breathe easily again, as after exertion or anxiety

  • spirit

    infuse with spirit

  • spirited

    displaying animation, vigor, or liveliness

  • spiritless

    lacking ardor or vigor or energy

  • spirituality

    property or income owned by a church

  • transpire

    pass through the tissue or substance or its pores or interstices, as of gas

Differentiated vocabulary for your students is just a click away.