whisper

whisper
I. verb (whispered; whispering) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hwisperian; akin to Old High German hwispalōn to whisper, Old Norse hvīsla — more at whistle Date: before 12th century intransitive verb 1. to speak softly with little or no vibration of the vocal cords especially to avoid being overheard 2. to make a sibilant sound that resembles whispering transitive verb 1. to address in a whisper 2. to utter or communicate in or as if in a whisper II. noun Date: 1595 1. something communicated by or as if by whispering; especially rumor <
whispers of scandal
>
2. a. an act or instance of whispering; especially speech without vibration of the vocal cords b. a sibilant sound that resembles whispered speech 3. hint, trace

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Whisper — may refer to: * whispering, a form of vocalizationIn fiction* Whisper ( Fable ), fictitious character in the popular Fantasy RPG Fable * Whisper, a character created by Ian Fleming in the James Bond novel and film Live and Let Die * Whisper… …   Wikipedia

  • Whisper — Whis per, v. t. [1913 Webster] 1. To utter in a low and nonvocal tone; to say under the breath; hence, to mention privately and confidentially, or in a whisper. [1913 Webster] They might buzz and whisper it one to another. Bentley. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • whisper — [hwis′pər, wis′pər] vi. [ME whisperen < OE hwisprian, akin to wispern < IE base * k̑wei , to whiz, hiss > WHINE, WHISTLE] 1. to speak very softly, esp. without the resonance produced by the vibration of the vocal cords 2. to talk quietly …   English World dictionary

  • Whisper — Whis per, v. i. [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}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To speak… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • whisper — [n1] rumor; information expressed in soft voice buzz*, confidence, disclosure, divulgence, gossip, hint, hum, hushed tone, innuendo, insinuation, low voice, mumble, murmur, mutter, report, secret, secret message, sigh, sighing, susurration,… …   New thesaurus

  • Whisper — Whis per, n. [1913 Webster] 1. A low, soft, sibilant voice or utterance, which can be heard only by those near at hand; voice or utterance that employs only breath sound without tone, friction against the edges of the vocal cords and arytenoid… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Whisper — conocida en castellano en la Argentina como: Susurros de terror, en España como: Hellion, el ángel caído, en México como: El hijo del diablo y en Venezuela como: Poseído, es una película de suspenso dirigida por Sterward Hendler, en la que parti …   Wikipedia Español

  • WHISPER — index imply, report (rumor), suggestion, tip (clue) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • whisper — (v.) O.E. hwisprian speak very softly (only in a Northumbrian gloss for L. murmurare), from P.Gmc. *khwis (Cf. M.Du. wispelen, O.H.G. hwispalon, Ger. wispeln, wispern, O.N. hviskra to whisper ), imitative and probably related to O.E. hwistlian to …   Etymology dictionary

  • whisper — ► VERB 1) speak very softly using one s breath rather than one s throat. 2) literary rustle or murmur softly. ► NOUN 1) a whispered word or phrase, or a whispering tone of voice. 2) literary a soft rustling or murmuring sound. 3) a rumour or… …   English terms dictionary

  • whisper — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun ADJECTIVE ▪ barely audible, the barest, faint, gentle, hushed, low, mere, quiet, slight (esp. AmE), soft …   Collocations dictionary

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