Efflation

/ɪˈfleɪ.ʃən/ noun

Definition

The act or process of breathing out or expelling air from the lungs; exhalation.

Etymology

From 'efflate' plus '-tion' suffix. Formed in the 16th-17th centuries as medical and philosophical texts needed precise vocabulary for describing respiratory processes.

Kelly Says

Medieval doctors believed certain illnesses could be diagnosed by the quality of a patient's 'efflation'—the warmth, smell, and sound of their breath told stories about their internal humors.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.