WHISPER

whisper, whispering, susurration, voicelessness

(noun) speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords

rustle, rustling, whisper, whispering

(noun) a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind

whisper

(verb) speak softly; in a low voice

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

whisper (plural whispers)

The act of speaking in a quiet voice, especially, without vibration of the vocal cords.

(usually, in the plural) A rumor.

(figurative) A faint trace or hint (of something).

A low rustling sound, like that of the wind in leaves.

(internet) A private message to an individual in a chat room.

Verb

whisper (third-person singular simple present whispers, present participle whispering, simple past and past participle whispered)

(intransitive) 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.

(transitive) To mention privately and confidentially, or in a whisper.

(intransitive) To make a low, sibilant sound.

(intransitive) To speak with suspicion or timorous caution; to converse in whispers, as in secret plotting.

(transitive, obsolete) To address in a whisper, or low voice.

(transitive, obsolete) To prompt secretly or cautiously; to inform privately.

Source: Wiktionary

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Whis"per, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Whispered; p. pr. & vb. n. Whispering.] Etym: [AS. hwisprian; akin to G. wispern, wispeln, OHG. hwispal, Icel. hviskra, 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, n.

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.

Whis"per, v. t.

1. To utter in a low and nonvocal tone; to say under the breath; hence, to mention privately and confidentially, or in a whisper. They might buzz and whisper it one to another. Bentley.

2. To address in a whisper, or low voice. [Archaic] And whisper one another in the ear. Shak. Where gentlest breezes whisper souls distressed. Keble.

3. To prompt secretly or cautiously; to inform privately. [Obs.] "He came to whisper Wolsey." Shak.

Whis"per, n.

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 cartilages taking the place of the vibration of the cords that produces tone; sometimes, in a limited sense, the sound produced by such friction as distinguished from breath sound made by friction against parts of the mouth. See Voice, n., 2, and Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 5, 153, 154. The inward voice or whisper can not give a tone. Bacon. Soft whispers through the assembly went. Dryden.

2. A cautious or timorous speech. South.

3. Something communicated in secret or by whispering; a suggestion or insinuation.

4. A low, sibilant sound. "The whispers of the leaves." Tennyson.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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