whispern.
/ˈwɪspə/, U.S. /ˈ(h)wɪspər/ 1.
a. An act, or the action, of whispering, or speaking ‘under one's breath’; the low non-resonant quality of voice which characterizes this (esp. in in a whisper).In Phonetics (equivalently), Speech or vocal sound without the musical or resonant tone produced by vibration of the vocal cords; a ‘breath’ sound, as distinguished from ‘voice’ (see breath n. 8, voice n. 11); in strict use implying also contraction of the glottis: see also Compounds 1.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > [noun] > whispering
whisperingc975
roundingOE
susurrationa1425
tutelingc1440
tittlinga1450
whistering1586
whisper1609
whisperation1710
whisht1773
the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > voiced or voiceless sound gen > [noun] > voiceless quality > whisper or wheeze
whispering1849
whisper1877
wheeze1890
1609 W. Shakespeare Pericles xi. 9 The sea-mans Whistle Is as a whisper in the eares of death, Vnheard. View more context for this quotation
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §174 The Inward Voice or Whisper can neuer giue a Tone.
1758 S. Johnson Idler 17 June 81 Secrets which he always communicates in a whisper.
1778 F. Burney Evelina I. xxiii. 184 I heard him say..in an audible whisper,—which is a mode of speech very distressing and disagreeable to by-standers [etc.].
1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 2nd Ser. 57 Conversing in low whispers.
1837 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers xliv. 485 Mr. Weller delivered this..with great vehemence of whisper.
1864 A. Bain Senses & Intellect (ed. 2) i. iv. 319 In a whisper there is no musical sound.
1877 H. Sweet Handbk. Phonetics 5 Whisper in popular language simply means speech without voice. Phonetically whisper implies not merely absence of voice, but a definite contraction of the glottis.
1882 W. Besant All Sorts of Men II. xxii. 127 ‘Mind, it's a secret.’ He lowered his voice to a whisper.
b. A whispered word, phrase, remark, or speech.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > [noun] > whispering > whisper
whispera1616
pig's whisper1826
stage-whisper1864
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) iv. 0. 7 From Camp to Camp,..The Humme of eyther Army stilly sounds; That the fixt Centinels almost receiue The secret Whispers of each others Watch.
a1640 P. Massinger Parl. of Love (1976) v. i. 246 Shee has putt The iudges to theire whisper.
1770 O. Goldsmith Deserted Village 203 Full well the busy whisper, circling round, Convey'd the dismal tidings when he frown'd.
1821 Ld. Byron Sardanapalus iii. i. 105 What, at whispers With my stern brother?
1829 W. Scott Anne of Geierstein I. x. 297 The sage Persian comforted him by a long whisper, of which the last part only was heard.
1833 H. Martineau Demerara (ed. 3) xi Some relaxation of discipline allowed them to exchange a whisper from time to time.
c. pig's whisper: see pig's whisper n. stage whisper: see stage-whisper n. at stage n. Compounds 2.
2. A secret or slight utterance, mention, or report; a suggestion, insinuation, hint, light rumour (communicated in a whispering voice, or (figurative) by a soft rustling sound (cf. 3) or mentally); with negative, the slightest mention, the ‘least word’.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > keeping from knowledge > hidden or indirect meaning > [noun] > communicating indirectly > instance of
implicative1589
whisper1596
adumbration1677
implicate1881
insinuendo1885
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1895) II. 178 Not a word, nor quhisper in thair contrare.
1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. i. 79 At least the whisper goes so.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iv. v. 80 The people..vnwholsome in thoughts, and whispers For good Polonius death. View more context for this quotation
1664 in Extracts State Papers (Friends' Hist. Soc.) (1911) 2nd Ser. 191 Some whispers that the Judges would not proceede against any of the Quakers.
1677 W. Hubbard Pres. State New-Eng. 43 The bullet passing through his own hair, by that whisper telling him that death was very near.
1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 64. ⁋1 He [sc. a Courtier] deals much in Whispers, and you may see he dresses according to the best Intelligence.
1780 J. Bentham Introd. Princ. Morals & Legisl. (1789) xvii. §11. 313 If the thunders of the law prove impotent, the whispers of simple morality can have but little influence.
1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward I. vi. 124 A whisper from those recesses of the heart in which lies much that the owner does not know of.
1827 J. W. Croker in Croker Papers 17 Apr. (1884) I. 374 No one raises even a whisper of reproach against Peel.
1846 A. Marsh Father Darcy xxviii He rejected the pleadings of pity—the whispers of conscience.
1870 J. H. Burton Hist. Scotl. to 1688 VII. lxxii. 95 There were whispers that he was to be put to death without trial.
3. figurative. A soft rustling sound resembling or suggesting that of a whispering voice.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > faintness or weakness > [noun] > faint or weak sound > whispering sound
whisping1379
whispering1610
whisper1638
susurration1640
susurring1826
susurrus1826
susurrence1909
whiffle1972
1638 J. Milton Lycidas in Obsequies 24 in Justa Edouardo King The mild whispers..Of shades and wanton winds and gushing brooks.
1798 S. T. Coleridge Anc. Marinere iii, in W. Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge Lyrical Ballads 19 With never a whisper in the Sea Oft darts the Spectre-ship.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Gardener's Daughter in Poems (new ed.) II. 30 Whispers, like the whispers of the leaves That tremble round a nightingale.
1898 ‘H. S. Merriman’ Roden's Corner v A silence, broken only by the whisper of the wind through the rigging.
Compounds
C1. attributive. Uttered in a whisper; in Phonetics, uttered without the vocal murmur, ‘breath’ (see breath n. 8); whisper-like, whisper-proof adjs.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > [adjective] > whispering > whispered
whispered1567
breathed1579
whispering1599
whisper1626
underbreath1853
stage-whispered1941
1626 N. Breton Fantasticks in Wks. (1879) II. 6/2 The leaues of the trees are in whisper talkes.
1838 E. Guest Hist. Eng. Rhythms I. 9 It is..doubtful if there ever was a language which had its whisper letters perfect.
1838 E. Guest Hist. Eng. Rhythms I. 10 The whisper sounds of the two liquids l, r, constitute two distinct letters in Welsh.
1846 Proc. Philol. Soc. (1848) 3 4 The sound of th, whether whisper or vocal.
1876 Lanier in Atlantic Monthly (1899) LXXXIII. 799/1 I..inserted a whisper chorus..to prepare by its straining pianissimo for the outburst of jubilation.
1876 Gentleman's Mag. Sept. 339 To ascertain whether..our boasted right of asylum was really whisper-proof.
1904 W. H. Hudson Green Mansions iii. 45 The mysterious melody began... It was uttered by the same being heard on former occasions..that low, whisper-like talking.
1964 J. C. Catford in D. Abercrombie et al. Daniel Jones 37 What feels like breath..begins to sound more whisper~like at rates of flow above about 300 cl/sec.
C2.
whisper-shot n. [after ear-shot] the distance within which a whisper can be heard.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > distance > [noun] > limit of distance or reach > of specific sound
whisper-shot1863
shouting distance1930
1863 W. S. Gilbert in Cornhill Mag. Dec. 728 Informing everybody within whisper-shot..that this was my first brief.
1936 N. Streatfeild Ballet Shoes xviii. 278 Petrova looked round to see that Posy was out of whisper-shot.
Derivatives
ˈwhisperhood n. the condition of being a whisper (in sense 2).Apparently an isolated use.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > rumour > [noun] > tale-bearer > condition of
whisperhood1710
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > keeping from knowledge > hidden or indirect meaning > [noun] > communicating indirectly > condition of
whisperingnessa1586
whisperhood1710
inexplicitness1869
implicativeness1932
1710 J. Swift Examiner No. 15. ⁋5 I know a Lie that now disturbs half the Kingdom with its Noise, which..I can remember in its Whisper-hood.
ˈwhisperless adj. not uttering a whisper, or in which no whisper is heard; absolutely silent.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > inaudibility > [adjective] > silent
coyc1330
stone-still1338
quietc1384
softa1393
peacec1400
swownc1400
tongueless1447
clumc1485
mutec1500
whist1513
silent1542
dead1548
husht1557
whisted1557
whust1558
whust1558
whisht1570
huisht1576
quiet (also mum, mute, still, etc.) as a mouse (in a cheese)1584
fordead1593
noiseless1608
whisha1612
dumba1616
soundlessa1616
st1655
silentish1737
defta1763
sleeping1785
untoned1807
mousy1812
soughless1851
deathlike1856
whisperless1863
deathly1865
1863 P. S. Worsley Poems & Transl. 19 Crouching whisperless.
1911 R. Brooke in New Age 16 Nov. 59/2 The secret deeps are whisperless.
ˈwhisperous adj. = whispery adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > faintness or weakness > [adjective] > whispering sound
whisperinga1547
whistering1586
susurrant1791
whisperya1835
susurrent1857
susurrous1860
whisperous1884
1884 Ld. Lytton in 19th Cent. Dec. 898 The whisperous, awe-struck tone of the voice.
1892 Ld. Lytton King Poppy viii. 8 Waves that, hid in whisperous shadows, heaved.
ˈwhisperously adv.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > [adverb] > in a whispered manner
roundingly?1406
whisperingly1580
under (also below) one's breath1636
auricularly1667
susurringly1830
whisperously1858
underbreath1865
1858 E. Bulwer-Lytton What will he do with It? v. viii The Duchess..sinks her voice, and gabbles on—whisperously.
ˈwhispery adj. full of or characterized by whispers; resembling a whisper.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > faintness or weakness > [adjective] > whispering sound
whisperinga1547
whistering1586
susurrant1791
whisperya1835
susurrent1857
susurrous1860
whisperous1884
a1835 F. D. Hemans Zegri Maid in Poet. Wks. (1836) 209/2 In the whispery olive shade.
1844 J. R. Lowell Columbus 5 The reeling sea..falling Crumbled to whispery foam.
1861 L. L. Noble After Icebergs 254 The whispery, hissing sound of smoothly sliding waters.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1924; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
whisperv.
/ˈwɪspə/, U.S. /ˈ(h)wɪspər/ 1.
a. intransitive. To speak softly ‘under one's breath’, i.e. without the resonant tone produced by vibration of the vocal cords; to talk or converse in this way, esp. in the ear of another, for the sake of secrecy. (See also 4a.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > speak in a particular manner [verb (intransitive)] > whisper
whisperc950
roundOE
tutel?c1225
whistera1382
mumc1390
runka1500
susurr1529
whista1555
susurrate1623
rewhisper1753
cutter1781
whittie-whattie1821
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > keeping from knowledge > hidden or indirect meaning > talk secretively [verb (intransitive)]
whisperc950
muster1440
c950 Lindisf. Gosp. John p. 4 Murmurantes, hwisprendo.
c975 Rushw. Gosp. Luke xix. 7 And miððy gesegon alle hwispredon [L. murmurabant].
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 421/1 Quysperon.., mussito.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 525/1 Whysperyn.
1577 H. Rhodes Bk. Nurture (new ed.) sig. B.viii Whysper not thou with thy fellowes oft.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) iv. i. 125 Iuno and Ceres whisper seriously. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) iv. iii. 298 Ile whisper with the Generall, and knowe his pleasure. View more context for this quotation
1676 E. M. Thompson Corr. Family of Hatton (1878) I. 136 Ld Wharton, and Ld Mohun sat..wispring together.
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 38. ⁋8 He immediately runs into Secrets, and falls a whispering.
1848 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair xlviii. 429 Many ladies round about whispered and talked, and many gentlemen nodded and whispered.
b. transitive with adv. To bring by whispering.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > say in a particular manner [verb (transitive)] > whisper > bring by whispering
whisper1692
1692 J. Dryden Eleonora 21 Her Soul was whisper'd out, with God's still Voice.
1855 C. Kingsley Westward Ho! xxiv Cary..returned, and whispered Amyas away.
2.
a. transitive. To say, tell, communicate, utter, or express by whispering. (With simple object or object clause; often with the actual words uttered as object.) See also 4b.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > action of informing > give (information) [verb (transitive)] > inform (a person) > quietly
breathe?1590
whisper1598
bewhisper1674
1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 436 What did you whisper in your Ladies eare? View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) ii. ii. 100 If Cæsar hide himselfe, shall they not whisper Loe Cæsar is affraid? View more context for this quotation
a1678 A. Marvell Last Instr. to Painter in Coll. Poems Affairs of State (1689) III. 24 His Fathers Ghost too whisper'd him one Note, That who does cut his Purse will cut his Throat.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis xii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 587 Rising Fears are whisper'd thro' the Crowd.
1712 S. Centlivre Perplex'd Lovers i. iv. 10 She..whispers out her words, least I shou'd hear her.
1828 E. Bulwer-Lytton Pelham I. viii. 54 I took the opportunity..to approach Lady Roseville, and whisper my adieus.
1836 E. B. Barrett Poet's Vow v, in New Monthly Mag. 48 217 They whispered oft, ‘she sleepeth soft’.
1891 ‘J. S. Winter’ Lumley iii. 20 ‘What is it?’ he asked, in a loud whisper. ‘Gooseberry,’ she whispered back—‘come and sit here by me.’
b. intransitive for passive. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > action of informing > give information [verb (intransitive)] > special or private
winka1500
hark?a1600
whisper1850
tip1903
to pull a person's coat1946
1850 Ld. Tennyson In Memoriam iii. 3 O sorrow,..What whispers from thy lying lip? View more context for this quotation
3. With the person, etc. as object: To address in a whisper; (with following clause or infinitive) to tell, inform, bid, or ask in a whisper.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > say in a particular manner [verb (transitive)] > whisper > address in a whisper
roundOE
whisper1540
stage-whisper1978
1540 J. Palsgrave in tr. G. Gnapheus Comedye of Acolastus i. i. sig. Diijv He hath whyspered the in the eare, or taught the thy lesson in a corner.
a1591 H. Smith Serm. (1592) 988 He will whisper the poore howe they shall come by riches.
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing iii. i. 4 Whisper her eare and tell her I and Vrsley, Walke in the orchard. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) iv. iv. 797 Ile..whisper him in your behalfes. View more context for this quotation
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §946 He did first whisper the Man in the Eare, that such a Man should thinke such a Card.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 117. ¶5 He whispered me in the Ear to take notice of a Tabby Cat.
1758 O. Goldsmith tr. J. Marteilhe Mem. Protestant I. 22 I whispered my Companion softly, that as the Night was very dark, we might give him the Slip.
1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) II. 35 By whispering the rein-deer in the ear, they know the place of their destination.
a1816 R. B. Sheridan School for Scandal (rev. ed.) iv. iii, in Wks. (1821) II. 117 Enter Servant, and whispers Joseph Surface.
1841 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop i. viii. 125 Miss Jane..whispered her sister to observe how jealous Mr. Cheggs was.
1899 W. Besant Orange Girl ii. xxi. 368 The Lord Mayor whispered the Judge again.
4. With special connotations.
a. intransitive. To speak or converse quietly or secretly about something (usually implying hostility, malice, conspiracy, etc.); also (with negative) to speak ever so slightly, to say ‘the least thing’ about something.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > hatred > hostility > be hostile [verb (intransitive)] > speak with hostile intent
whisperc1530
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > slander or calumny > utter slander or calumny [verb (intransitive)] > secretly
backbite1377
whisperc1530
c1530 A. Barclay Egloges ii. sig. Kiv That whan other talke, & speke what they wyll Thou dare nat whysper.
1539 Bible (Great) Psalms xli. 7 All myne enemyes whisper together agaynst me.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde ii. i. f. 53v His companyons whyspered and muttered ageynste hym.
1667 S. Pepys Diary 28 June (1974) VIII. 300 And ne'er a prince in France dare whisper against it.
1824 B. Hofland Patience vii. 111 Mrs. Masterman..whispers every where about your wife's covetousness.
b. transitive. To say, report, communicate, or utter quietly, secretly, or confidentially; also (with negative) to utter ever so slightly, to say the least word of. (With simple object or object clause; often in passive.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > keeping from knowledge > hidden or indirect meaning > communicate secretively [verb (transitive)]
whistera1382
whisper1562
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > privacy > make private [verb (transitive)] > report confidentially
whisper1562
1562 Reg. Privy Council Scotl. I. 209 It is quhisperit and murmurrit that sum suld forgett thair devoyr.
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II ii. iv. 11 Leane-lookt prophets whisper fearefull change. View more context for this quotation
1628 in W. Foster Eng. Factories India 1624–9 (1909) 202 This newes was first wispered here the 19th November.
a1708 T. Ward England's Reformation (1710) ii. 38 This Matter whisper'd up and down, Was quickly spread thro' all the Town.
1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering III. xiii. 255 It is whispered about..that there is such a plan.
1841 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop ii. lii. 89 Some vague rumour..which had been whispered abroad.
1845 B. Disraeli Sybil II. iv. xii. 282 Whisper nothings that sound like something.
1877 R. H. Roberts Harry Holbrooke of Holbrooke Hall xiv. 214 It was whispered that a man answering to his description was keeping a very lucrative gambling-house in San Francisco.
c. transitive with adv. or adv.phr. To bring into or out of something, or to take away, by secret (esp. malicious or slanderous) speech.
ΚΠ
1631 in S. R. Gardiner Rep. Cases Star Chamber & High Comm. (1886) 24 He is to be admonished..not to whisper away the fame and credit of Deputies and governors.
1783 E. Burke Speech Fox's E. India Bill 99 They cannot be whispered out of their duty,..their public conduct cannot be censured without a public discussion.
1841 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop ii. lviii. 127 Are characters to be whispered away like this?
1872 H. Bushnell Serm. Living Subj. xiii. 257 The great majority..are led, drawn, beckoned, whispered into their calling.
5. intransitive (figurative from 1.) To make a soft rustling sound resembling or suggesting a whisper.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > faintness or weakness > sound faintly or quietly [verb (intransitive)] > make whispering sound
whisper1653
1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler ix. 185 There will the River wispering run. View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 319 The Winds no longer whisper through the Woods.
1769 T. Gray Inscript. Villa in New Foundling Hosp. for Wit: Pt. 3rd 34 No tree is heard to whisper, bird to sing.
1846 A. Marsh Father Darcy xxxiv The autumn wind whispered low among the branches.
6.
a. transitive (figurative from 2.) To suggest secretly to the mind; also, to express or communicate by a soft rustling sound (cf. 5).
ΚΠ
1640 S. Harding Sicily & Naples iii. i. 33 This day (There's something whispers to me) will prove fatall.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 158 Gentle gales..dispense Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole Those balmie spoiles. View more context for this quotation
1748 T. Gray Ode in R. Dodsley Coll. Poems II. 265 Whisp'ring pleasure as they fly, Cool zephyrs..Their gather'd fragrance fling.
1828 C. Lamb Old Margate Hoy in Elia 2nd Ser. 34 The waves to him whispered more pleasant stories.
1837 B. Disraeli Venetia I. 232 A strange sympathy which whispers convictions that no evidence can authorise.
1878 R. Browning La Saisiaz 150 Truth is truth in each degree, Thunderpealed by God to Nature, whispered by my soul to me.
b. with the person, etc. as obj. (figurative from 3).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > suggestion, proposal > suggest [verb (transitive)] > secretly
whispera1616
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iv. iii. 211 Giue sorrow words; the griefe that do's not speake, Whispers the o're-fraught heart, and bids it breake. View more context for this quotation
1713 J. Addison Cato ii. i Something whispers me All is not right.
1761 A. Murphy All in Wrong i. 1 What devil whispered thee to marry such a woman?
1771 O. Goldsmith Hist. Eng. II. 394 Adulation had whispered the king with such an opinion of his own ability.
1832 B. Disraeli Contarini Fleming I. i. v. 40 Nature seemed to whisper me the folly of learning words instead of ideas.
1849 T. Woolner Noon in My Beautiful Lady iv Western wind..Whisper deliciously the trembling flowers.
Derivatives
ˈwhisperable adj. that can be whispered.Apparently an isolated use.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > keeping from knowledge > hidden or indirect meaning > [adjective] > capable of being implied
whisperable1830
impliablea1865
1830 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 28 893 All speak—talk—whisper—or smile, of all the speakable, talkable, whisperable, and smileable..affairs.
whispeˈration n. whispering.Apparently an isolated use.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > [noun] > whispering
whisperingc975
roundingOE
susurrationa1425
tutelingc1440
tittlinga1450
whistering1586
whisper1609
whisperation1710
whisht1773
1710 C. Shadwell Fair Quaker of Deal iii. 37 Coxen. Ah—when the Captain and Purser whispers, our Guts ought to grumble. 6 Sailor. Ay, Coxen, those Whisperations are many an Ounce of Butter and Cheese out of our Way.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1924; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1596
v.c950