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Whisper   /wˈɪspər/  /hwˈɪspər/   Listen
noun
Whisper  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. "The inward voice or whisper can not give a tone." "Soft whispers through the assembly went."
2.
A cautious or timorous speech.
3.
Something communicated in secret or by whispering; a suggestion or insinuation.
4.
A low, sibilant sound. "The whispers of the leaves."



verb
Whisper  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."
2.
To address in a whisper, or low voice. (Archaic) "And whisper one another in the ear." "Where gentlest breezes whisper souls distressed."
3.
To prompt secretly or cautiously; to inform privately. (Obs.) "He came to whisper Wolsey."



Whisper  v. i.  (past & past part. whispered; pres. part. whispering)  
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."
3.
To speak with suspicion, or timorous caution; to converse in whispers, as in secret plotting. "All that hate me whisper together against me."






Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48








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"Whisper" Quotes from Famous Books



... mother—she takes refuge in silencing unworthy, and to which one feels her gentleness must be forced. "Hark! The cat will get you, Letty! See that cat?" And the feline horror in nameless form, evoked in an awe-inspiring whisper, controls the little creature, who ...
— The Woman Who Toils - Being the Experiences of Two Gentlewomen as Factory Girls • Mrs. John Van Vorst and Marie Van Vorst

... bones of St. Boswell," Randal said again, as near a whisper as he could attain to, "the lady of the linen-basket shall come as the Maid. We have ...
— A Monk of Fife • Andrew Lang

... faint creaking upon the stairs. He was coming back! Or could it by any chance be another person? He dared not venture to whisper; he stood, tense with excitement, while the sounds came nearer—it was as if some monster were creeping upon him in the darkness, and folding ...
— Samuel the Seeker • Upton Sinclair

... a half-whisper. Then she came toward Lord Rokesle, smiling. "Why, of course, I teased you, Vincent, but there was never any hard feeling, was there? And you really wish me to marry you? Well, we must see, Vincent. But, as you say, matrimony is a serious matter. D'ye know you say very sensible ...
— Gallantry - Dizain des Fetes Galantes • James Branch Cabell

... indefatigable as the fly's[10] 175 Which perch'd among the boughs sends forth at noon Through all the grove his slender ditty sweet. Such sat those Trojan leaders on the tower, Who, soon as Helen on the steps they saw, In accents quick, but whisper'd, thus remark'd. 180 Trojans and Grecians wage, with fair excuse, Long war for so much beauty.[11] Oh, how like In feature to the Goddesses above! Pernicious loveliness! Ah, hence away, Resistless as thou art and all divine, 185 Nor leave a curse ...
— The Iliad of Homer - Translated into English Blank Verse • Homer


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