expire
UK: ɪkˈspaɪə | US: ɪkˈspaɪər
vi. to come to an end; to cease to be valid
vi. to die or perish
vt. to exhale (air, breath); archaic usage
expire = ex<out> + spire<breathe>
- ex: Latin prefix meaning "out" or "away."
- spire: Derived from Latin spirare ("to breathe"), retained in English as a root related to breath or life.
Etymology Origin:
The word expire originated from Latin exspirare ("to breathe out"), combining ex- (out) and spirare (to breathe). It initially referred to the literal act of exhaling or emitting breath. Over time, it metaphorically extended to mean "the end of life" (breathing one's last) and later generalized to "the end of validity" (e.g., contracts, licenses). This progression reflects the symbolic link between breath and vitality in ancient thought.
My passport will expire next month, so I need to renew it.
The lease on the apartment expires at the end of the year.
In medieval literature, heroes often expire dramatically after long soliloquies.
The software license expired, rendering the program unusable.
She held her breath until she felt she might expire from lack of air.