breathfuladj.n.
/ˈbrɛθf(ᵿ)l/, U.S. /ˈbrɛθf(ə)l/ A. adj.† 2. Having or producing an odour; fragrant; odorous. Obsolete. rare.
1. Having breath or life; alive. rare.In extended use in quot. 2002.
ΚΠ
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis iii. 54 How faers Ascanius? doth he liue, and breathful abydeth?
1865 Fife Herald 15 June When is it..within the statutes thereto provided to take the life of a fellow-creature, and turn the warm and breathful image of God into cold clay?
2002 Paragraph 25 87 We must be attentive to use words that in themselves conserve life and pass it on instead of passing on only information. We must use a language that remains breathful, alive, sensible.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fragrance > [adjective] > perfuming
breathful1591
perfuming1593
perfumatory1611
sweetening1707
1591 E. Spenser Muiopotmos in Complaints sig. V2 Fresh Costmarie, and breathfull Camomill.
1878 Elocutionist's Jrnl. July 11/3 The onion wept with its breathful taste.
3. Full of breath or air; produced by the breath. Also: characterized by the sound of the breath; breathy.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > [adjective]
strongOE
savouringc1384
breatheda1398
flairinga1400
smellinga1400
odorifere?a1425
odorous?a1425
smellablec1449
odoranta1465
odoriferousc1487
odiferousa1500
odoureda1500
odiferant1509
redolent?a1513
reflairing1523
odoriferantc1550
scenting1577
odorable1589
breathful1593
fat1598
olent1607
smelled1617
odorific1685
tainted1704
odourful1889
osmic1912
the world > life > source or principle of life > [adjective] > opposed to dead
in the land of the livingc825
livingeOE
lifeeOE
quickeOE
aliveOE
livishc1175
alivesc1300
in lifea1325
with lifea1325
of life1392
breathinga1398
undeada1400
upon lifea1413
live1531
lifesome1582
undeceased1589
vivec1590
breathful1593
vivificent1598
on the hoof1818
the world > matter > gas > air > [adjective] > full of
breathful1593
flatulent1600
air-freighted1851
the world > life > the body > respiratory organs > breathing > [adjective] > full of breath
breathful1593
1593 B. Barnes Parthenophil & Parthenophe 13 Wast breathlesse wordes, and breathfull sighes increase.
1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene iv. v. sig. E7 The breathfull bellowes blew amaine. View more context for this quotation
1841 Athenæum 30 Oct. 829/3 Sweet thoughts..Surprise her into sighing, Till, speechless grown, that breathful air Is all her soul's replying.
1976 N. Jordan Night in Tunisia (1989) 36 She was crying, great breathful sobs.
1992 M. L. Gross Red Swastika ii. xliii. 167 ‘The American people are demanding action,’ Briggs continued, his voice breathful.
B. n.
A quantity of air, smoke, etc., that is breathed in or out; as much as is inhaled or exhaled in one breath.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > respiratory organs > breathing > [noun] > breath > single
breathc1300
breathful1815
the world > relative properties > measurement > the scientific measurement of volume > measure(s) of capacity > amount defined by capacity > [noun] > amount that fills other specific things
sheetful?1530
streetful1595
rangeful1603
stringful1611
heavenful1637
hellful1637
skyful1645
gardenful1651
paperful1722
ropeful1726
notchful1733
breathful1815
cityful1826
forestful1832
worldful1835
treeful1837
spongeful1867
stackful1868
balloonful1870
fairful1872
socketful1872
valleyful1890
universeful1893
slingful1913
pawful1925
1815 T. Hall Songs & Occas. Poems (ed. 2) Notes & Explan. 198 The Esplanade is also the resort of all descriptions of persons,..all equally anxious to receive a breathful of fresh air, though generally swallowing a little dust with it!
1903 O. A. Liljencrantz Ward of King Canute xxii. 256 She drew herself up bravely, her words coming in uneven breathfuls.
1962 B. Tannenbaum & M. Stillman Understanding Food iii. 43 Not even a breathful of carbon dioxide could escape through the seal.
2012 D. Morgan Disappearing Home xii. 91 She lights a cigarette. Takes in a breathful of smoke, shakes the match dead and throws it to the floor.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2020; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.n.1582