The term exhaust originated in the English language during the mid-sixteenth century, maintaining a similar definition to its present-day usage. It is derived from the Latin term exhaustus, the past participle of the verb exhaurire, which translates to “to draw off” or “to use up”. This word is a combination of the prefix ex-, meaning “out”, and the root haurire, which signifies “to draw up” (such as water) or “take out”. In a more symbolic context, it can signify “remove”, leading to the understanding of exhaust as something that is pushed away rather than pulled towards, despite potential variations in interpretation by the Romans. Ultimately, haurire traces back to the Proto-Italic term auzjo, originating from the Proto-Indo-European reconstruction hews, signifying “east” or “dawn”, with the concept of the sun being drawn upwards.
