Gasp , n. The act of opening the mouth convulsively to catch the
breath; a labored respiration; a painful catching of the breath.
At the last gasp, at the point of
death. Addison.
Gasp , v. t. To emit or utter
with gasps; -- with forth, out, away, etc.
And with short sobs he gasps away his breath.
Dryden.
Gasp (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Gasped (?);
p. pr. & vb. n.
Gasping.]
[OE. gaspen, gaispen, to yawn, gasp,
Icel. geispa to yawn; akin to Sw. gäspa, Dan. gispe to gasp.] 1. To open the mouth wide in
catching the breath, or in
laborious respiration; to labor for breath; to respire convulsively;
to pant violently.
She gasps and struggles hard for life.
Lloyd.
2. To pant with eagerness; to show vehement desire.
Quenching the gasping furrows' thirst with rain.
Spenser.
Hear it pronounced