different between diacritical vs breathing

English

Etymology

From diacritic +? -al.

Adjective

diacritical (comparative more diacritical, superlative most diacritical)

1. Capable of distinguishing or of making a distinction.
2. Of, pertaining to, or serving as a diacritic
   • A. J. Ellis

     A glance at this typography will reveal great difficulties, which diacritical marks necessarily throw in the way of both printer and writer.

Derived terms

• diacritically

Translations

Noun

diacritical (plural diacriticals)

1. A diacritic (mark).

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?b?i?ð??/

Verb

breathing

1. present participle of breathe

Noun

breathing (countable and uncountable, plural breathings)

1. The act of respiration; a single instance of this.
2. A diacritical mark indicating aspiration or lack thereof.
3. (archaic) Time to recover one's breath; hence, a delay, a spell of time.
   • 1599, William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, Act 2 Scene 1

     DON PEDRO. Count Claudio, when mean you to go to church?

     CLAUDIO. To-morrow, my lord. Time goes on crutches till love have all his rites.

     LEONATO. Not till Monday, my dear son, which is hence a just seven-night; and a time too brief too, to have all things answer my mind.

     DON PEDRO. Come, you shake the head at so long a breathing; but, I warrant thee, Claudio, the time shall not go dully by us.

4. Any gentle influence or operation; inspiration.

   the breathings of the Holy Spirit

5. Aspiration; secret prayer.
   • May 24, 1683, John Tillotson, sermon preached at the funeral of Reverend Benjamin Whichcot

     earnest desires and breathings after that blessed state

Translations