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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Whisper \Whis"per\, verb (used without an object) [imp. & p. p. {Whispered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Whispering}.] [AS. hwisprian; akin to G. wispern, wispeln, OHG. hwispal?n, Icel. hv[=i]skra, Sw. hviska, Dan. hviske; of imitative origin. Cf. {Whistle}.]
1. To speak softly, or under the breath, so as to be heard only by one near at hand; to utter words without sonant breath; to talk without that vibration in the larynx which gives sonorous, or vocal, sound. See {Whisper}, noun
2. To make a low, sibilant sound or noise.
The hollow, whispering breeze. --Thomson.
3. To speak with suspicion, or timorous caution; to converse in whispers, as in secret plotting.
All that hate me whisper together against me. --Ps. xli. 7.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Whispering \Whis"per*ing\, a. & n. from {Whisper}. verb (used with an object)
{Whispering gallery}, or {Whispering dome}, one of such a form that sounds produced in certain parts of it are concentrated by reflection from the walls to another part, so that whispers or feeble sounds are audible at a much greater distance than under ordinary circumstances. The dome of the U. S. capitol building is one example. [1913 Webster +PJC]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
whispering
adjective: making a low continuous indistinct sound; "like murmuring waves"; "susurrant voices" [syn: {murmuring}, {susurrant}]
noun
1: the light noise like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind [syn: {rustle}, {rustling}, {whisper}]
2: speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords [syn: {whisper}, {susurration}]
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
47 Moby Thesaurus words for "whispering": aspiration, bated breath, breath, breathy voice, buzz, cry, drone, droning, exhalation, gabble, gibber, gibbering, gossip, grapevine, hearsay, jabber, jibber, little voice, low voice, maundering, mouthing, mumble, mumbling, murmur, murmuration, murmuring, murmurish, murmurous, mutter, muttering, rumble, rumor, rustling, scuttlebutt, sigh, soft voice, stage whisper, still small voice, susurrant, susurration, susurrous, susurrus, talk, underbreath, undertone, whisper, whispery
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Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |