Pant Meaning
/pænt/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA quick breathing; a catching of the breath; a gasp: the panting of animals such as a dog with their tong hung out- as a form of thermoregulation.
nounEager longing.
Sentence Examples
Tom's gone down two pant sizes since he went vegan.
Tom's gone down two pant sizes since he's been working out.
CEFR Practice Quiz
After running the marathon, the exhausted runner had to ____ to catch his breath.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The dog began to ____ heavily after running across the park in the afternoon heat.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English panten, whence also English dialectal pank. Possibly from Old French pantoyer, a byform or of Old French pantoisier (“to be breathless”) (compare modern French panteler (“to gasp for breath”)), of uncertain origin. Possibly from Vulgar Latin *pantasiō (“struggling for breath when having a nightmare”), from Ancient Greek φαντασιόω (phantasióō, “to be subject to hallucinations”), from φαντασία (phantasía, “appearance, image, fantasy”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Indeed, the projections, cravings, and everyday frolics common to trysts among buzz-activist Hollywood stars and starlets, plus their many common folk imitators, go forward with eager pant."
— 1995, John C. Leggett, Suzanne Malm, The Eighteen Stages of Love, page 9:
"To this great fairy I'll commend thy acts, / Make her thanks bless thee. O thou day o' the world, / Chain mine arm'd neck; leap thou, attire and all; / Through proof of harness to my heart, and there / Ride on the pants triumphing."
— c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene viii], page 360, column 2:
"Pluto pants for breath from out his cell."
— 1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
"There is a cavern where my spirit / Was panted forth in anguish."
— 1820, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Prometheus Unbound:
"Charles had just slipp'd the bolt of the door, and running, caught me in his arms, and lifting me from the ground, with his lips glew'd to mine, bore me, trembling, panting, dying, with soft fears and tender wishes, to the bed"
— 1749, [John Cleland], “(Please specify the letter or volume)”, in Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [Fanny Hill], London: […] [Thomas Parker] for G. Fenton [i.e., Fenton and Ralph Griffiths] […], →OCLC:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
After running the marathon, the exhausted runner had to ____ to catch his breath.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The dog began to ____ heavily after running across the park in the afternoon heat.