'spiritus lenis' definitions:

Definition of 'spiritus lenis'

From: GCIDE

Breathing \Breath"ing\, n.
1. Respiration; the act of inhaling and exhaling air. [1913 Webster]
Subject to a difficulty of breathing. --Melmoth. [1913 Webster]
2. Air in gentle motion. [1913 Webster]
3. Any gentle influence or operation; inspiration; as, the breathings of the Spirit. [1913 Webster]
4. Aspiration; secret prayer. "Earnest desires and breathings after that blessed state." --Tillotson. [1913 Webster]
5. Exercising; promotion of respiration. [1913 Webster]
Here is a lady that wants breathing too; And I have heard, you knights of Tyre Are excellent in making ladies trip. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
6. Utterance; communication or publicity by words. [1913 Webster]
I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
7. Breathing place; vent. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
8. Stop; pause; delay. [1913 Webster]
You shake the head at so long a breathing. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
9. Also, in a wider sense, the sound caused by the friction of the outgoing breath in the throat, mouth, etc., when the glottis is wide open; aspiration; the sound expressed by the letter h. [1913 Webster]
10. (Gr. Gram.) A mark to indicate aspiration or its absence. See Rough breathing, Smooth breathing, below. [1913 Webster]
Breathing place. (a) A pause. "That c[ae]sura, or breathing place, in the midst of the verse." --Sir P. Sidney. (b) A vent.
Breathing time, pause; relaxation. --Bp. Hall.
Breathing while, time sufficient for drawing breath; a short time. --Shak.
Rough breathing (spiritus asper) ([spasp]). See 2d Asper, n.
Smooth breathing (spiritus lenis), a mark (') indicating the absence of the sound of h, as in 'ie`nai (ienai). [1913 Webster] [1913 Webster]