Ex*pire" (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Expired (?); p. pr & vb. n.
Expiring.] [L. expirare, exspirare,
expiratum, exspiratum; ex out + spirare
to breathe: cf. F. expirer. See Spirit.]
1. To breathe out; to emit from the lungs; to
throw out from the mouth or nostrils in the process of respiration; -
- opposed to inspire.
Anatomy exhibits the lungs in a continual motion of
inspiring and expiring air.
Harvey.
This chafed the boar; his nostrils flames
expire.
Dryden.
2. To give forth insensibly or gently, as a
fluid or vapor; to emit in minute particles; to exhale; as, the earth
expires a damp vapor; plants expire odors.
The expiring of cold out of the inward parts of
the earth in winter.
Bacon.
3. To emit; to give out. [Obs.]
Dryden.
4. To bring to a close; to terminate.
[Obs.]
Expire the term
Of a despised life.
Shak.
Ex*pire", v. i. 1.
To emit the breath.
2. To emit the last breath; to breathe out
the life; to die; as, to expire calmly; to expire in
agony.
3. To come to an end; to cease; to terminate;
to perish; to become extinct; as, the flame expired; his lease
expires to-day; the month expired on
Saturday.
4. To burst forth; to fly out with a
blast. [Obs.] "The ponderous ball expires."
Dryden.
