subvocaladj.
/ˌsʌbˈvəʊkl/, U.S. /ˌsəbˈvoʊk(ə)l/ Of a sound, word, or speech: uttered so as to be barely audible; formed in one's mind without being uttered or spoken aloud. Cf. subvocalize v.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > loss or lack of voice > [adjective] > not accompanied by utterance
subvocal1843
1843 Ann. Rep. of Superintendent Common Schools (State N.-Y. Dept. Common Schools) 350 Others will read in a kind of muttering, subvocal tone..and the ear is strained with the effort to catch the sound.
1934 Jrnl. Philos. 31 534 This theory..contends that thought is nothing but subvocal speech.
1971 P. Goodman Speaking & Lang. i. i. 18 Much of being alone and almost all of what is called ‘thinking’ are subvocal talk.
1992 L. A. Graf Ice Trap i. 17 Steno rolled his eyes with a subvocal sigh.
Derivatives
subˈvocally adv.
ΚΠ
1918 N.Y. Tribune 21 Apr. v. 4/6 Do I hear the mere listener sub-vocally assent?
1961 E. J. Furlong Imagination vii. 77 The words ‘the Chapel’ are subvocally present to me along with the visual object.
1991 Lang. in Society 20 623 Such statements are first formed vocally or subvocally.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1843