perspiration

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

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌpɜːspəˈeɪʃn̩/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌpɝspəˈɹeɪʃn̩/

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• Rhymes: -eɪʃən
• Hyphenation: per‧spi‧ra‧tion

perspiration (usually uncountable, plural perspirations)

1. The action or process of perspiring.
   • 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.

2. (by extension) Hard work.
   • 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.

3. A saline fluid secreted by the sweat glands; sweat.

• sweat
• hidrosis
• diaphoresis

• perspire
• transpiration

• genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration