■ verb
1》 breathe with short, quick breaths, typically from exertion or excitement.
↘long for or to do something.
2》 literary (of the heart or chest) throb violently from strong emotions.
■ noun a short, quick breath.
Derivatives
~ing adjective
~ingly adverb
Origin
ME: related to OFr. ~aisier 'be agitated, gasp', based on Gk phantasioun 'cause to imagine', from phantasia (see fantasy ).