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breathe in

English translation: imbibe (take in and absorb)/assimiliate

19:47 Jan 7, 2017
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
English term or phrase: breathe in
Hello everyone,

Here am I, my body made of elements that once were stardust, drawn from the far corners of the universe to flesh out, however briefly, the pattern that is uniquely me, my soul a thing that can breathe in, and in some meaningful
sense remember, the enormity of such awe-inspiring origins. But who, or what, is this “I” that I think I am? Where do I begin, and where do I end?

What does "breathe in" mean here?

Thank you.
Mikhail Korolev
Local time: 01:09
Selected answer:imbibe (take in and absorb)/assimiliate
Explanation:
Lorena should have posted an answer. I agree with her (and Charles) that "breathe in" here means that the souls can not only imbibe or take in "the enormity of such awe-inspiring origins" but also be able to "remember the enormity of such awe-inspiring origins."

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/imbibe

Of course when we see the term "breathe in " we may also think of a newborn baby taking its first breath of life or, in this context, recall the biblical Creation of Man as told in Genesis.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis 2:7
Genesis 2:7New International Version (NIV)

"7 Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."

It should also be borne in mind that for many religions, the body is the temporal thing whereas the soul is eternal. Here it seems both are temporal (though if I had more context this may prove not to be the case) as it says "to flesh out, however briefly, the pattern that is uniquely me" i.e. the various elements brought together to form the unique "I" for a lifetime or existence which is just a speck of sand in eternity,.
For some religions or philosophies, all animate beings have immortal souls while others disagree with this. Some examples here and also a link to existentialist philosophy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul

http://www.iep.utm.edu/existent/



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Note added at 3 days16 hrs (2017-01-11 11:48:50 GMT) Post-grading
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Glad to have helped
Selected response from:

Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 23:09
Grading comment
Many thanks to everyone.
Thank you, Gallagy.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
3 +2my soul a thing that is alive
Ellen Kraus
4 +1imbibe (take in and absorb)/assimiliate
Yvonne Gallagher


Discussion entries: 7





  

Answers


20 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
my soul a thing that is alive


Explanation:
that´s how I´d Interpret breathe in (to exhale and to inhale are signs of life)

Ellen Kraus
Austria
Local time: 00:09
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, Ellen.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  María
41 mins
neutral  Tony M: Yes, except that here, 'breathe in' is being used as a transitive verb with a direct object; the meaning is not simply 'breathe in and out' = 'breathe'.
2 hrs
agree  acetran
18 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

18 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
imbibe (take in and absorb)/assimiliate


Explanation:
Lorena should have posted an answer. I agree with her (and Charles) that "breathe in" here means that the souls can not only imbibe or take in "the enormity of such awe-inspiring origins" but also be able to "remember the enormity of such awe-inspiring origins."

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/imbibe

Of course when we see the term "breathe in " we may also think of a newborn baby taking its first breath of life or, in this context, recall the biblical Creation of Man as told in Genesis.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis 2:7
Genesis 2:7New International Version (NIV)

"7 Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."

It should also be borne in mind that for many religions, the body is the temporal thing whereas the soul is eternal. Here it seems both are temporal (though if I had more context this may prove not to be the case) as it says "to flesh out, however briefly, the pattern that is uniquely me" i.e. the various elements brought together to form the unique "I" for a lifetime or existence which is just a speck of sand in eternity,.
For some religions or philosophies, all animate beings have immortal souls while others disagree with this. Some examples here and also a link to existentialist philosophy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul

http://www.iep.utm.edu/existent/



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 days16 hrs (2017-01-11 11:48:50 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Glad to have helped

Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 23:09
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 659
Grading comment
Many thanks to everyone.
Thank you, Gallagy.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Eleanor Bridgwood (X)
21 hrs
  -> Many thanks:-)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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