'aspiringness' ultimately derives from Latin via the verb 'aspirare' (Latin), itself from 'ad-' + 'spirare' where 'spirare' meant 'to breathe'.

'aspirare' passed into Old French and Middle English as forms of 'aspire' (e.g. Middle English 'aspiren'), later producing the modern English verb 'aspire' and derivative nouns such as 'aspiration' and the more recent formation 'aspiringness' in Modern English.

Originally associated with the literal sense 'to breathe upon' or 'to seek' in Latin, the sense shifted toward 'to seek eagerly or strive for' and now denotes desire or ambition as in 'aspiringness'.