mutterv.¹

Brit.

/ˈmʌtə/, U.S.

/ˈmədər/

Forms: Middle English moter, Middle English muter, late Middle English motere, late Middle English motre, late Middle English mottre, late Middle English–1500s muttre, 1500s motir, 1500s mutther, 1500s muttor, 1500s– mutter.

Origin: Apparently an imitative or expressive formation. Etymon: -er suffix⁵.

Etymology: Apparently ultimately < an imitative base + -er suffix⁵; compare Old High German mutilōn to murmur, trickle (German regional muttern to mutter, grumble, rumble); compare also muster v.² and parallels cited s.v. More remotely, perhaps compare also classical Latin muttīre to murmur, mutter (see mot n.²; > Middle French mutir (c1430 in an isolated attestation)), mussāre to mutter (see mussitate v.), mūtus mute adj., ancient Greek μύειν to close (the lips or eyes: see mystery n.¹), Latvian mute mouth.

†1. intransitive. Of a goat: to bleat. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > subfamily Caprinae (goat) > [verb (intransitive)] > make sound

bleatOE

muttera1325

blea1568

rattle1575

rottle1688

rat1713

whicker1753

maa1827

a1325 Gloss. W. de Bibbesworth (Cambr.) (1929) 274 Chevereau cherist [glossed muterers] [v.rr. motereth; gredes; blarys], et tor torreie.

a. intransitive. To speak in a low, barely audible tone with the mouth nearly closed.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > speak in a particular manner [verb (intransitive)] > mutter or mumble

mamblea1275

mumblec1350

blabber1362

babblea1400

muttera1425

pattera1425

rumble1440

barbettec1480

murmell1546

palter?1548

buzz1555

fumble1563

drumble1579

to sup up1579

radote?1590

chunter1599

putter1611

mussitate1623

muss1661

muffle1669

slobber1692

thruma1774

fumfer1954

a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) 2 Kings xii. 19 Whanne Dauid hadde herd his seruauntis spekynge priueli, ether moterynge [L. mussitantes], he understood that the ȝong child was deed.

1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 301 Therewith the French men beganne to muttor, and sayde among themselues, the prince had spoken nobly.

1597 M. Drayton Englands Heroicall Epist. f. 54 Mine eyes..thought report too niggardly had spard; And strooken dumbe with wonder, did but mutter, Conceiuing more then shee had words to vtter.

1611 Bible (King James) Isa. viii. 19 Seeke..vnto wizards that peepe and that mutter .

1642 T. Fuller Holy State ii. xxi. 134 He heard his men muttering amongst themselves of the strength and greatnesse of the Town.

1692 R. L'Estrange Fables ccxix. 192 The Wolfe went Muttering away upon't.

1717 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad III. x. 527 The Head, yet speaking, mutter'd as it fell.

1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews I. ii. xii. 255 That high Woman..immediately withdrew into another Room, muttering as she went.

1794 Sporting Mag. 4 106 A Sleep-walker and Sleep-talker perambulated and muttered.

1855 A. Bain Senses & Intellect ii. i. 334 Some persons of weak or incontinent nerves can hardly think without muttering—they talk to themselves.

1860 J. G. Holland Miss Gilbert's Career ii. 21 At not infrequent intervals she had heard her little brother moaning and muttering in his sleep.

1891 A. Conan Doyle in Strand Mag. Dec. 624/1 The most lay silent but some muttered to themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, monotonous voice.

1911 J. Conrad Under Western Eyes i. iii. 70 The other, muttering cautiously with downcast eyes, supposed that his comrade had seen the news.

1959 W. Golding Free Fall (1961) viii. 155 She said something and for a moment or two they muttered.

1987 M. Collins Angel v. 87 She muttered more to herself.

b. intransitive. To express dissatisfaction covertly in low tones; to murmur, complain, grumble in an undertone. Frequently with about, against, at. Also figurative.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > suffering > displeasure > discontent or dissatisfaction > state of complaining > complain [verb (intransitive)]

murkeOE

misspeakOE

yomer971

chidea1000

murkenOE

grutch?c1225

mean?a1300

hum13..

plainta1325

gruntc1325

plainc1325

musea1382

murmurc1390

complain1393

contrary1393

flitec1400

pinea1425

grummec1430

aggrudge1440

hoinec1440

mutterc1450

grudge1461

channerc1480

grunch1487

repine1529

storm?1553

expostulate1561

grumblea1586

gruntle1591

chunter1599

swagger1599

maunder1622

orp1634

objurgate1642

pitter1672

yelp1706

yammer1794

natter1804

murgeon1808

groan1816

squawk1875

jower1879

grouse1887

beef1888

to whip the cat1892

holler1904

yip1907

peeve1912

grouch1916

nark1916

to sound off1918

create1919

moana1922

crib1925

tick1925

bitch1930

gripe1932

bind1942

drip1942

kvetchc1950

to rag on1979

wrinch2011

c1450 (?c1425) St. Mary of Oignies ii. ii, in Anglia (1885) 8 166 (MED) She..motered not ageyne god.

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. cxxj Certain souldiors..beganne to mutter and murmure against the kyng and his counsaill.

1585 Abp. E. Sandys Serm. ii. 26 The worthie magistrate Moses was muttered against.

1621 T. W. tr. S. Goulart Wise Vieillard 70 They..doe mutter at, and finde fault with euery thing that is spoken or done.

1692 J. Washington tr. J. Milton Def. People Eng. ii. 49 The people must not dare to mutter.

1707 E. Ward Wooden World Dissected 27 Oft does he mutter at the Partialities of the Board.

1720 D. Defoe Life Capt. Singleton 223 Our Men mutter'd a little at it, but I pacified them.

1816 W. Scott Antiquary II. v. 134 And the old man drew off from the ground..and continued muttering and talking to himself in sullen indignation mixed with anxiety.

1856 R. W. Emerson Eng. Traits x. 162 Whether it were not possible to make a spinner that would not rebel, nor mutter, nor scowl, nor strike for wages, nor emigrate?

1895 S. Crane Red Badge of Courage xvi. 156 The men were disheartened and began to mutter.

1920 J. W. Fletcher Poem of Mist in Breakers & Granite (1921) 156 The country will not waken..though rebellion mutters at its gates.

1963 B. Friedan Feminine Mystique i. 28 The fact is that no one today is muttering angrily about ‘women's rights’, even though more and more women have gone to college.

1986 U. Holden Tin Toys (1987) iii. 26 She went on muttering about Maggie being the culprit.

c. intransitive. In extended use: to make a low, ominous, rumbling sound.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > faintness or weakness > sound faintly or quietly [verb (intransitive)] > make murmuring sounds

murmurc1395

croona1500

mustle1570

mute1570

simmera1637

hummer1691

remurmur1697

hum1730

mummer1763

whimper?1795

mutter1797

brum1844

rumour1894

1797 A. Radcliffe Italian I. i. 16 Like distant thunder muttering imperfectly from the clouds.

1858 N. Hawthorne Jrnl. 21 June in French & Ital. Notebks. (1980) v. 333 The thunder muttered and grumbled.

1904 J. London Sea-wolf xvii. 160 The wind was now dead astern, muttering and puffing stronger and stronger, and my head-sails were pounding lustily.

1926 D. H. Lawrence Plumed Serpent xv. 222 In the outer air, thunder muttered in different places.

1961 W. Meredith in New Yorker 30 Sept. 48/2 My loud machine for making hay Mutters about our work today.

a. transitive. To utter indistinctly and in a low tone. Also: to say (a thing) covertly or in secret.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > say in a particular manner [verb (transitive)] > mutter or mumble

muttera1425

mumblec1450

murmurc1460

blabber?a1513

palter?1548

fumble1555

flummer1563

chaw1570

buzz1583

mumpa1586

demurmurate1641

loll1655

muttera1690

swallowa1791

sough1821

hummera1860

lip1887

mum-mumble1917

potato-mouth1937

rhubarb1958

a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (1987) ii. 541 Wyth that he smot his hed adown anon And gan to motre [v.rr. motere, mottre, muttre], I noot what, trewely.

a1560 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Æneid (1584) xiii When he had sayd, with humming voice thesame they mutter all.

a1586 Sir P. Sidney tr. Psalmes David (1823) ii. i What do theis people meane, To mutter murmurs vaine?

1595 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 i. i. 166 What mutter you? or what conspire you Lords?

a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) iii. iii. 422 There are a kinde of men so loose of soule, That in their sleepes will mutter their affaires.

1645 E. Pagitt Heresiogr. Ep. Ded. sig. ^πA1^v Who have their Prayers in their owne tongue, and mutter them not in Latin as the Romists doe.

1724 A. Ramsay Vision in Ever Green I. ix Revenge is muttert be ilk clan.

1751 T. Gray Elegy xxvii. 10 Mutt'ring his wayward fancies he wou'd rove.

1791 A. Radcliffe Romance of Forest I. i. 27 Sometimes she muttered an incoherent sentence.

1811 J. Austen Sense & Sensibility II. xiii. 256 Poor Edward muttered something, but what it was, nobody knew, not even himself.

1856 B. Brodie Psychol. Inq. (ed. 3) I. iii. 100 I knew a gentleman who was accustomed to mutter certain words to himself..even in the midst of company.

1891–2 A. Conan Doyle Adventures Sherlock Holmes x She rose hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room.

1929 J. B. Priestley Good Compan. ii. i. 258 Mrs. Mounder suddenly dipped, took the note, muttered something that nobody could catch, and hurried out.

1986 Punch 18 June 37/2 Nor, I fancy, should you mutter a tip to Her Majesty.

b. transitive. With direct speech or clause as object.

ΚΠ

1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde i. iv. f. 21^v The people..muttered amonge them selues, that owre nation hadde trowbled the elementes.

1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. i. xiii. f. 32 Arrius sayth that Christe is God, but he muttereth that he was create.

1622 F. Bacon Hist. Raigne Henry VII 163 They muttered extremely, that it was a thing not to bee suffered.

1623 J. Mede in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) 1st Ser. III. 151 Yet its muttered the Match will be.

1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews I. ii. v. 188 Adams..snapping his Fingers over his Head muttered aloud, He would excommunicate such a Wretch for a Farthing.

1798 M. Wollstonecraft Maria II. xii. 61 He muttered, ‘that I should soon repent of these preposterous airs’.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. ii. 230 Some who had always professed the doctrine of nonresistance in its full extent were now heard to mutter that there was one limitation to that doctrine.

1891 O. Wilde Picture of Dorian Gray xii. 227 ‘To see my soul!’ muttered Dorian Gray, starting up from the sofa and turning almost white from fear.

1957 F. King Man on Rock iv. 120 Sometimes they muttered to each other that he was ‘homo’.

1985 T. Parks Tongues of Flame I. 20 ‘Stupefying!’ my father muttered going past the dining-room.

†c. transitive. In extended use. Cf. sense 2c. Obsolete. rare.The construction in quot. 1667 is obscure.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > faintness or weakness > make quieter [verb (transitive)] > make murmuring sound

mutter1572

purl1648

remurmur1709

whimper?1795

hummera1860

rumour1887

1572 G. Kyttes Vnluckie Firmentie sig. Biv For then the Thunderclaps dyd mutther Rap, rap, one after another Assendynge into his nose.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 1002 Skie lowr'd, and muttering Thunder, som sad drops Wept at compleating of the mortal Sin Original.

d. transitive. With over. To recite in low indistinct tones, to mumble.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > say in a particular manner [verb (transitive)] > mutter or mumble

muttera1425

mumblec1450

murmurc1460

blabber?a1513

palter?1548

fumble1555

flummer1563

chaw1570

buzz1583

mumpa1586

demurmurate1641

loll1655

muttera1690

swallowa1791

sough1821

hummera1860

lip1887

mum-mumble1917

potato-mouth1937

rhubarb1958

a1690 Bp. E. Hopkins Expos. Lord's Prayer (1692) 2 To mutter over a road of Words only,..as multitudes of many ignorant Persons among us do.

1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake iii. 101 And much, 'twas said, of heathen lore Mixed in the charms he muttered o'er.

1817 T. Moore Lalla Rookh 175 To mutter o'er some text of God Engraven on his reeking sword.

1865 ‘L. Carroll’ Alice's Adventures in Wonderland xii. 185 ‘All right, so far,’ said the King, and he went on muttering over the verses to himself.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	mutter
释义	muttern. Brit. /ˈmʌtə/, U.S. /ˈmədər/ Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: mutter v.¹ Etymology: < mutter v.¹ A low, barely audible utterance expressive of discontent or disapproval; indistinct talk or discussion; muttering. Also in extended use. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > [noun] > murmuring or muttering blabberingc1375 mammeringa1425 mumblingc1440 mumming1440 rumbling1440 mutteringc1475 buzzing1532 momblishness1532 hummel-bummel1537 murmuration1541 mumblement1595 babblinga1599 hummering1637 mutter1637 fumble1647 murmur1704 admurmuration1727 slurring1806 the world > food and drink > food > animal food > [noun] > fodder > plants used as fodder bullimong1313 podder1468 tare1482 greens1607 lucerne1652 esperate1659 esparcet1669 tare-thistle1753 buckwheat1776 mangel-wurzel1787 mangold1848 sacate1848 sacaton1865 mangel-wurzel potato1875 mutter1875 ramon1885 cattle-bush1889 manna1897 beech-wheat- the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular fodder plants > [noun] > other fodder plants mutter1875 munyeroo1878 guar1882 prickly comfrey1888 kudzu1893 Townsville lucerne1925 1637 J. Milton Comus 28 Without his rod revers't, And backward mutters of dissevering power Wee cannot free the Ladie. 1654 R. Josselin Diary 22 June (1976) 325 Much mutter there is in the country that the Electors must seale indentures at the choice. 1843 ‘R. Carlton’ New Purchase I. vi. 35 [He] had, at first, uttered himself in a saucy and indistinct mutter, as he untackled his team and we crawled out of the hay-mow. 1874 C. H. Spurgeon Treasury of David IV. Ps. xcviii. 6 That chill mutter..which is now so commonly the substitute for earnest congregational singing. 1875 ‘A. R. Hope’ My Schoolboy Friends 146 I gave an inaudible mutter. 1900 J. Conrad Lord Jim xxii. 247 ‘You think I don't?’ he asked uneasily, and remarked in a mutter that one had to get some sort of show first. 1941 W. J. Cash Mind of South i. iii. 89 It was possible for a man to be an open atheist or agnostic..without..being..subjected to the angry mutters..of his neighbor. 1991 J. Connor Distortions 72 The drier switched off behind him with a snap and a mutter. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022). mutterv.¹ Brit. /ˈmʌtə/, U.S. /ˈmədər/ Forms: Middle English moter, Middle English muter, late Middle English motere, late Middle English motre, late Middle English mottre, late Middle English–1500s muttre, 1500s motir, 1500s mutther, 1500s muttor, 1500s– mutter. Origin: Apparently an imitative or expressive formation. Etymon: -er suffix⁵. Etymology: Apparently ultimately < an imitative base + -er suffix⁵; compare Old High German mutilōn to murmur, trickle (German regional muttern to mutter, grumble, rumble); compare also muster v.² and parallels cited s.v. More remotely, perhaps compare also classical Latin muttīre to murmur, mutter (see mot n.²; > Middle French mutir (c1430 in an isolated attestation)), mussāre to mutter (see mussitate v.), mūtus mute adj., ancient Greek μύειν to close (the lips or eyes: see mystery n.¹), Latvian mute mouth. †1. intransitive. Of a goat: to bleat. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > subfamily Caprinae (goat) > [verb (intransitive)] > make sound bleatOE muttera1325 blea1568 rattle1575 rottle1688 rat1713 whicker1753 maa1827 a1325 Gloss. W. de Bibbesworth (Cambr.) (1929) 274 Chevereau cherist [glossed muterers] [v.rr. motereth; gredes; blarys], et tor torreie. 2. a. intransitive. To speak in a low, barely audible tone with the mouth nearly closed. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > speak in a particular manner [verb (intransitive)] > mutter or mumble mamblea1275 mumblec1350 blabber1362 babblea1400 muttera1425 pattera1425 rumble1440 barbettec1480 murmell1546 palter?1548 buzz1555 fumble1563 drumble1579 to sup up1579 radote?1590 chunter1599 putter1611 mussitate1623 muss1661 muffle1669 slobber1692 thruma1774 fumfer1954 a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) 2 Kings xii. 19 Whanne Dauid hadde herd his seruauntis spekynge priueli, ether moterynge [L. mussitantes], he understood that the ȝong child was deed. 1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 301 Therewith the French men beganne to muttor, and sayde among themselues, the prince had spoken nobly. 1597 M. Drayton Englands Heroicall Epist. f. 54 Mine eyes..thought report too niggardly had spard; And strooken dumbe with wonder, did but mutter, Conceiuing more then shee had words to vtter. 1611 Bible (King James) Isa. viii. 19 Seeke..vnto wizards that peepe and that mutter . View more context for this quotation 1642 T. Fuller Holy State ii. xxi. 134 He heard his men muttering amongst themselves of the strength and greatnesse of the Town. 1692 R. L'Estrange Fables ccxix. 192 The Wolfe went Muttering away upon't. 1717 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad III. x. 527 The Head, yet speaking, mutter'd as it fell. 1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews I. ii. xii. 255 That high Woman..immediately withdrew into another Room, muttering as she went. View more context for this quotation 1794 Sporting Mag. 4 106 A Sleep-walker and Sleep-talker perambulated and muttered. 1855 A. Bain Senses & Intellect ii. i. 334 Some persons of weak or incontinent nerves can hardly think without muttering—they talk to themselves. 1860 J. G. Holland Miss Gilbert's Career ii. 21 At not infrequent intervals she had heard her little brother moaning and muttering in his sleep. 1891 A. Conan Doyle in Strand Mag. Dec. 624/1 The most lay silent but some muttered to themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, monotonous voice. 1911 J. Conrad Under Western Eyes i. iii. 70 The other, muttering cautiously with downcast eyes, supposed that his comrade had seen the news. 1959 W. Golding Free Fall (1961) viii. 155 She said something and for a moment or two they muttered. 1987 M. Collins Angel v. 87 She muttered more to herself. b. intransitive. To express dissatisfaction covertly in low tones; to murmur, complain, grumble in an undertone. Frequently with about, against, at. Also figurative. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > suffering > displeasure > discontent or dissatisfaction > state of complaining > complain [verb (intransitive)] murkeOE misspeakOE yomer971 chidea1000 murkenOE grutch?c1225 mean?a1300 hum13.. plainta1325 gruntc1325 plainc1325 musea1382 murmurc1390 complain1393 contrary1393 flitec1400 pinea1425 grummec1430 aggrudge1440 hoinec1440 mutterc1450 grudge1461 channerc1480 grunch1487 repine1529 storm?1553 expostulate1561 grumblea1586 gruntle1591 chunter1599 swagger1599 maunder1622 orp1634 objurgate1642 pitter1672 yelp1706 yammer1794 natter1804 murgeon1808 groan1816 squawk1875 jower1879 grouse1887 beef1888 to whip the cat1892 holler1904 yip1907 peeve1912 grouch1916 nark1916 to sound off1918 create1919 moana1922 crib1925 tick1925 bitch1930 gripe1932 bind1942 drip1942 kvetchc1950 to rag on1979 wrinch2011 c1450 (?c1425) St. Mary of Oignies ii. ii, in Anglia (1885) 8 166 (MED) She..motered not ageyne god. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. cxxj Certain souldiors..beganne to mutter and murmure against the kyng and his counsaill. 1585 Abp. E. Sandys Serm. ii. 26 The worthie magistrate Moses was muttered against. 1621 T. W. tr. S. Goulart Wise Vieillard 70 They..doe mutter at, and finde fault with euery thing that is spoken or done. 1692 J. Washington tr. J. Milton Def. People Eng. ii. 49 The people must not dare to mutter. 1707 E. Ward Wooden World Dissected 27 Oft does he mutter at the Partialities of the Board. 1720 D. Defoe Life Capt. Singleton 223 Our Men mutter'd a little at it, but I pacified them. 1816 W. Scott Antiquary II. v. 134 And the old man drew off from the ground..and continued muttering and talking to himself in sullen indignation mixed with anxiety. 1856 R. W. Emerson Eng. Traits x. 162 Whether it were not possible to make a spinner that would not rebel, nor mutter, nor scowl, nor strike for wages, nor emigrate? 1895 S. Crane Red Badge of Courage xvi. 156 The men were disheartened and began to mutter. 1920 J. W. Fletcher Poem of Mist in Breakers & Granite (1921) 156 The country will not waken..though rebellion mutters at its gates. 1963 B. Friedan Feminine Mystique i. 28 The fact is that no one today is muttering angrily about ‘women's rights’, even though more and more women have gone to college. 1986 U. Holden Tin Toys (1987) iii. 26 She went on muttering about Maggie being the culprit. c. intransitive. In extended use: to make a low, ominous, rumbling sound. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > faintness or weakness > sound faintly or quietly [verb (intransitive)] > make murmuring sounds murmurc1395 croona1500 mustle1570 mute1570 simmera1637 hummer1691 remurmur1697 hum1730 mummer1763 whimper?1795 mutter1797 brum1844 rumour1894 1797 A. Radcliffe Italian I. i. 16 Like distant thunder muttering imperfectly from the clouds. 1858 N. Hawthorne Jrnl. 21 June in French & Ital. Notebks. (1980) v. 333 The thunder muttered and grumbled. 1904 J. London Sea-wolf xvii. 160 The wind was now dead astern, muttering and puffing stronger and stronger, and my head-sails were pounding lustily. 1926 D. H. Lawrence Plumed Serpent xv. 222 In the outer air, thunder muttered in different places. 1961 W. Meredith in New Yorker 30 Sept. 48/2 My loud machine for making hay Mutters about our work today. 3. a. transitive. To utter indistinctly and in a low tone. Also: to say (a thing) covertly or in secret. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > say in a particular manner [verb (transitive)] > mutter or mumble muttera1425 mumblec1450 murmurc1460 blabber?a1513 palter?1548 fumble1555 flummer1563 chaw1570 buzz1583 mumpa1586 demurmurate1641 loll1655 muttera1690 swallowa1791 sough1821 hummera1860 lip1887 mum-mumble1917 potato-mouth1937 rhubarb1958 a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (1987) ii. 541 Wyth that he smot his hed adown anon And gan to motre [v.rr. motere, mottre, muttre], I noot what, trewely. a1560 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Æneid (1584) xiii When he had sayd, with humming voice thesame they mutter all. a1586 Sir P. Sidney tr. Psalmes David (1823) ii. i What do theis people meane, To mutter murmurs vaine? 1595 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 i. i. 166 What mutter you? or what conspire you Lords? a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) iii. iii. 422 There are a kinde of men so loose of soule, That in their sleepes will mutter their affaires. View more context for this quotation 1645 E. Pagitt Heresiogr. Ep. Ded. sig. ^πA1^v Who have their Prayers in their owne tongue, and mutter them not in Latin as the Romists doe. 1724 A. Ramsay Vision in Ever Green I. ix Revenge is muttert be ilk clan. 1751 T. Gray Elegy xxvii. 10 Mutt'ring his wayward fancies he wou'd rove. 1791 A. Radcliffe Romance of Forest I. i. 27 Sometimes she muttered an incoherent sentence. 1811 J. Austen Sense & Sensibility II. xiii. 256 Poor Edward muttered something, but what it was, nobody knew, not even himself. View more context for this quotation 1856 B. Brodie Psychol. Inq. (ed. 3) I. iii. 100 I knew a gentleman who was accustomed to mutter certain words to himself..even in the midst of company. 1891–2 A. Conan Doyle Adventures Sherlock Holmes x She rose hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. 1929 J. B. Priestley Good Compan. ii. i. 258 Mrs. Mounder suddenly dipped, took the note, muttered something that nobody could catch, and hurried out. 1986 Punch 18 June 37/2 Nor, I fancy, should you mutter a tip to Her Majesty. b. transitive. With direct speech or clause as object. ΚΠ 1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde i. iv. f. 21^v The people..muttered amonge them selues, that owre nation hadde trowbled the elementes. 1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. i. xiii. f. 32 Arrius sayth that Christe is God, but he muttereth that he was create. 1622 F. Bacon Hist. Raigne Henry VII 163 They muttered extremely, that it was a thing not to bee suffered. 1623 J. Mede in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) 1st Ser. III. 151 Yet its muttered the Match will be. 1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews I. ii. v. 188 Adams..snapping his Fingers over his Head muttered aloud, He would excommunicate such a Wretch for a Farthing. View more context for this quotation 1798 M. Wollstonecraft Maria II. xii. 61 He muttered, ‘that I should soon repent of these preposterous airs’. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. ii. 230 Some who had always professed the doctrine of nonresistance in its full extent were now heard to mutter that there was one limitation to that doctrine. 1891 O. Wilde Picture of Dorian Gray xii. 227 ‘To see my soul!’ muttered Dorian Gray, starting up from the sofa and turning almost white from fear. 1957 F. King Man on Rock iv. 120 Sometimes they muttered to each other that he was ‘homo’. 1985 T. Parks Tongues of Flame I. 20 ‘Stupefying!’ my father muttered going past the dining-room. †c. transitive. In extended use. Cf. sense 2c. Obsolete. rare.The construction in quot. 1667 is obscure. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > faintness or weakness > make quieter [verb (transitive)] > make murmuring sound mutter1572 purl1648 remurmur1709 whimper?1795 hummera1860 rumour1887 1572 G. Kyttes Vnluckie Firmentie sig. Biv For then the Thunderclaps dyd mutther Rap, rap, one after another Assendynge into his nose. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 1002 Skie lowr'd, and muttering Thunder, som sad drops Wept at compleating of the mortal Sin Original. View more context for this quotation d. transitive. With over. To recite in low indistinct tones, to mumble. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > say in a particular manner [verb (transitive)] > mutter or mumble muttera1425 mumblec1450 murmurc1460 blabber?a1513 palter?1548 fumble1555 flummer1563 chaw1570 buzz1583 mumpa1586 demurmurate1641 loll1655 muttera1690 swallowa1791 sough1821 hummera1860 lip1887 mum-mumble1917 potato-mouth1937 rhubarb1958 a1690 Bp. E. Hopkins Expos. Lord's Prayer (1692) 2 To mutter over a road of Words only,..as multitudes of many ignorant Persons among us do. 1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake iii. 101 And much, 'twas said, of heathen lore Mixed in the charms he muttered o'er. 1817 T. Moore Lalla Rookh 175 To mutter o'er some text of God Engraven on his reeking sword. 1865 ‘L. Carroll’ Alice's Adventures in Wonderland xii. 185 ‘All right, so far,’ said the King, and he went on muttering over the verses to himself. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022). mutterv.² Brit. /ˈmʌtə/, U.S. /ˈmədər/ Forms: 1600s mutter; English regional (southern) 1800s– mutter, 1800s– muttery (Somerset). Origin: Of uncertain origin. Perhaps a variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymon: moulter v.¹ Etymology: Origin uncertain; perhaps a variant of moulter v.¹ Now English regional (southern). intransitive. Probably: = moulder v., moulter v.¹ ΘΚΠ the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > deteriorate in condition [verb (intransitive)] > decompose, crumble, or melt away melteOE fleetc1384 dissolvec1420 unbindc1450 loosec1480 moulder1531 mirtlec1540 mould1542 moulter1568 mutter1609 mosker1612 disband1633 dust1636 dissipatea1676 deliquesce1792 decompose1793 disintegrate1817 1609 C. Butler Feminine Monarchie vi. sig. G5^v If you feele it [sc. leg-honey] betweene your warme fingers, it muttereth apart, where wax sticketh fast togither. 1883 W. H. Cope Gloss. Hampshire Words 60 Clods will mutter after a shower. a1903 G. L. Green in Eng. Dial. Dict. (1903) IV. 214/1 [Surrey] Mutter [of the soil: to crumble; to moulder away]. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.1637v.¹a1325v.²1609
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