perspiration

English

Borrowed from late Middle French perspiration, from perspirer (“perspire”), from Latin perspirare (“to blow or breathe constantly”), from per (“through”) + spirare (“to breathe, blow”) Morphologically perspire +‎ -ation

perspiration (usually uncountable, plural perspirations)

The action or process of perspiring.
Synonyms: sweating; (in medical usage) diaphoresis, hidrosis, sudation, sudoresis

Hyponyms: (excessive) hyperhidrosis, (insufficient) hypohidrosis
- 1627, Francis Bacon, Sylva Sylvarum: or, A Naturall Historie, London: W. Lee, Cent. VII, section 680, page 170:
  The Cauſe may be Want of Perſpiration : For Much of the Matter of Haire, in the other Parts of the Body, goeth forth by Inſenſible Perſpiration ; And beſides, the Skull being of a more ſolide Subſtance, nouriſheth and aſſimilateth leſſe, and excerneth more.
(metonymically) Synonym of hard work.
Coordinate term: inspiration
- 1910, Frank Lewis Dyer, Thomas Commerford Martin, quoting Thomas Edison, Edison: His Life and Inventions, volume II, New York: Harper & Brothers, page 607:
  Genius is 1 per cent. inspiration and 99 per cent. perspiration.
Sweat (fluid).
- 1897, Marie Corelli, “Chapter II”, in Ziska: The Problem of a Wicked Soul, New York: Stone & Kimball, page 58:
  Passing his hand across his forehead he withdrew it, wet with drops of perspiration.

process of perspiring

sweat — see sweat

perspiration f (plural perspirations)