From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Mutter \Mut"ter\, verb (used without an object) [imp. & p. p. {Muttered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Muttering}.] [Prob. of imitative origin; cf. L. muttire, mutire.]
1. To utter words indistinctly or with a low voice and lips partly closed; esp., to utter indistinct complaints or angry expressions; to grumble; to growl.
Wizards that peep, and that mutter. --Is. viii. 19.
Meantime your filthy foreigner will stare, And mutter to himself. --Dryden.
2. To sound with a low, rumbling noise.
Thick lightnings flash, the muttering thunder rolls. --Pope.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
adjective
1: speaking low and indistinctly; "a mumbling parson stood beside the dying man"; "muttering crowds of onlookers" [syn: {mumbling}]
noun
1: a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech [syn: {mutter}, {murmur}, {murmuring}, {murmuration}, {mussitation}]
2: a complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone [syn: {grumble}, {grumbling}, {murmur}, {murmuring}, {mutter}]
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
79 Moby Thesaurus words for "muttering": aspiration, bated breath, beefing, bellyaching, bitching, breath, breathy voice, complaining, complaintful, crabbing, crabby, cranky, croaking, disappointed, discontented, disgruntled, displeased, dissatisfied, drone, droning, envious, exhalation, faultfinding, gabble, gibber, gibbering, griping, grouchy, grousing, growling, grumbling, jabber, jibber, little voice, low voice, malcontent, malcontented, maundering, mouthing, mumble, mumbling, murmur, murmuration, murmuring, murmurish, murmurous, mutter, out of humor, peevish, petulant, querulant, querulous, rebellious, resentful, restive, restless, rustling, sigh, soft voice, stage whisper, still small voice, sulky, susurrant, susurration, susurrous, susurrus, unaccepting, unaccommodating, underbreath, undertone, uneasy, unfulfilled, ungratified, unhappy, unsatisfied, whiny, whisper, whispering, whispery
Define.com is a registered nonprofit corporation dedicated solely to the global public interest and the advancement of humanity. It belongs to all of us who have a desire to promote electronic democracy, science, creativity, imagination, reason, critical thinking, peace, race and gender equality, civil rights, equal access to education, personal liberty, free speech, animal rights, compassionate and nonviolent parenting, social and economic justice, global monetary reform, Secular Humanism, cognitive liberty and a permanent cessation of The War on Drugs.
Let's see what we can do if we put our heads together.
0