anhelation

plural anhelations

1. archaicuncountablemedicineBreathing difficulty, shortness of breath.

   In a Diſpnœa, the breath is thick, vvithout noiſe or anhelation, and vvith leſs trouble.

   1655, Lazarus Riverius [i.e., Lazare Rivière], “Of Asthma, or Difficulty of Breathing”, in Nicholas Culpeper, Abdiah Cole, and William Rowland, transl., The Practice of Physick, […], London: […] Peter Cole, […], →OCLC, 7th book (Of the Diseases of the Breast), page 148

   Synonyms: breathlessness, dyspnea, dyspnoea

2. figurativelyobsoleteuncountableMental or spiritual agitation.
3. figurativelyobsoleteuncountableFollowed by after or for: eager desire; (countable) an instance of this.

   1 more example

   [T]ruſt not upon that rule, that men buy cheapeſt at the end of the market, that heaven may be had for a breath at laſt, vvhen they that hear it cannot tel vvhether it be a ſigh or a gaſp, a religious breathing and anhelation after the next life, or natural breathing out, and exhalation of this; but find a ſpiritual good husbandry in that other rule, that the prime of the market is to be had at firſt: […]

   1619 April 27 (date delivered; Gregorian calendar), John Donne, “A Sermon of Valediction at My Going into Germany, at L[i]ncolns-Inne, April. 18. 1619. Sermon XIX.”, in XXVI. Sermons (Never before Publish’d) Preached by that Learned and Reverend Divine John Donne, […] The Third Volume, London: […] Thomas Newcomb, […], published 1661, →OCLC, page 278