'breathtaking' originates from the combination of 'breath' and 'taking', where 'breath' refers to the air taken into or expelled from the lungs and 'taking' implies capturing or seizing.

'breathtaking' evolved from the literal sense of taking one's breath away due to astonishment or awe, becoming a common adjective in modern English.

Initially, it meant 'to take one's breath away due to physical exertion or surprise', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'astonishing or awe-inspiring'.