Defn: One who aspires; one who eagerly seeks some high position or
object of attainment.
In consequence of the resignations . . . the way to greatness was
left clear to a new set of aspirants. Macaulay.
ASPIRATE
As"pi*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aspirated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Aspirating.] Etym: [L. aspiratus, p. p. of aspirare to breathe toward
or upon, to add the breathing h; ad + spirare to breathe, blow. Cf.
Aspire.]
Defn: To pronounce with a breathing, an aspirate, or an h sound; as, we aspirate the words horse and house; to aspirate a vowel or a liquid consonant.
ASPIRATE
As"pi*rate, n.
1. A sound consisting of, or characterized by, a breath like the sound of h; the breathing h or a character representing such a sound; an aspirated sound.
2. A mark of aspiration used in Greek; the asper, or rough breathing. Bentley.
3. An elementary sound produced by the breath alone; a surd, or nonvocal consonant; as, f, th in thin, etc.
ASPIRATE; ASPIRATED
As"pi*rate, As"pi*ra"ted, a. Etym: [L. aspiratus, p. p.]
Defn: Pronounced with the h sound or with audible breath.
But yet they are not aspirate, i. e., with such an aspiration as h.
Holder.
ASPIRATION As`pi*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. aspiratio, fr. aspirare: cf. F. aspiration.]