0
The first public use of it, according to the Oxford Dictionary, was in 1596, in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice: "i. iii. 125 'With bated breath, and whispring humblenesse.'"
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
The phrase "waiting with bated breath" originated from William Shakespeare's play "The Merchant of Venice" written in the late 16th century. The term "bated" is a shortened form of "abated," which means to lessen or reduce, suggesting that one is holding their breath in anticipation or suspense.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What does the term waiting with baited breath mean?
It's "waiting with BATED breath". To bate is to reduce, lessen or diminish. Waiting with bated breath implies waiting with such suspense that one is hardly breathing.
What is the Source of quotation waiting with baited breath?
First, note that it is "bated" breath. Though the form "baited" is often used, it is still considered to be a misspelling. ["Baited" has a different sense, too.] "Bated" is a clipped form [technically, an aphetic] of "abated," just as squireis a clipped form of esquire. Abated means "lessened," "weakened," or "diminished": the word stresses the idea of progressive diminishing, as in the storm abated. The expression "bated breath" appears in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, but the origin of the idiom "waiting with bated breath" is lost in the dark past of our language.
What scene in Merchant of Venice has waiting with bated breath?
Act 1, Scene III Shylock . . .
What is the source of wait with baited breath?
First, note that it is "bated" breath. Though the form "baited" is often used, it is still considered to be a misspelling. ["Baited" has a different sense, too.] "Bated" is a clipped form [technically, an aphetic] of "abated," just as squireis a clipped form of esquire. Abated means "lessened," "weakened," or "diminished": the word stresses the idea of progressive diminishing, as in the storm abated. The expression "bated breath" appears in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, but the origin of the idiom "waiting with bated breath" is lost in the dark past of our language.
Is there such thing as a movie for The Seer and the Sword?
Unfortunately, there is no movie yet for this book. Though, I am waiting with bated breath for someone to make it a movie.
What does bated breath mean?
Nothing to do with bait, of course (as in, the cat ate a lump of cheese and waited outside the mousehole with baited breath). In fact, BATED is short for ABATED, or ceased; it just means holding your breath. Bated breath is breathing that is difficult because of emotion.
What does bated mean?
Nothing to do with bait, of course (as in, the cat ate a lump of cheese and waited outside the mousehole with baited breath). In fact, BATED is short for ABATED, or ceased; it just means holding your breath. Bated breath is breathing that is difficult because of emotion.
How do you use bated in a sentence?
I stood with bated breath as she moved closer to me. With their now much bated paychecks, it was no wonder the employees began to rob the company blind.
What are the release dates for Starlight Theatre - 1950 With Bated Breath 2-20?
Starlight Theatre - 1950 With Bated Breath 2-20 was released on: USA: 9 August 1951
An example of sequel in a sentence?
I await with bated breath the movies' sequel.
What is a sentence with correspondence?
I await your correspondence with bated breath. I am anxious to review today's correspondence.
How do you translate bated breath into Swedish?
Spänning. Sounds exactly like the English 'spanning'.
