'aspire' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'aspirare', where 'ad-' meant 'toward' and 'spirare' meant 'to breathe'.

'aspire' passed into English via Late Latin 'aspirare' and Old French influence; Middle English forms such as 'aspiren' led to the modern English 'aspire', and derivatives like 'aspiration', 'aspiring', and 'aspiringly' were formed later.

Initially it meant 'to breathe upon' or 'to breathe toward' (literal sense), but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to have a strong desire or ambition to achieve something'.