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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

whisper en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ˈ(h)wɪspɚ/ (General-American)
  • /ˈ(h)wɪspə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • (General-American) audio

Etymology

From Middle English whisperen, from Old English hwisprian (“to mutter, murmur, whisper”), from Proto-West Germanic *hwisprōn, from Proto-Germanic *hwisprōną (“to hiss, whistle, whisper”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱweys-, *ḱwey- (“to hiss, whistle, whisper”). Cognate with Dutch wisperen (“to whisper”), German wispern (“to mumble, whisper”). Related also to Danish hviske (“to whisper”), Icelandic hvískra (“to whisper”), Norwegian Bokmål hviske, kviskre (“to whisper”), Norwegian Nynorsk kviskre, kviskra (“to whisper”), Swedish viska (“to whisper”). More at English whistle.

Meanings

  1. The act of speaking in a quiet voice, especially without vibration of the vocal cords; the sound thus produced.
    • You know love is everything you say / A whisper, a word / Promises you give 2005 December 2, “Amarantine”, in Roma Ryan (lyrics), Enya (music), Amarantine, performed by Enya:
    • I spoke in a near whisper.
    • "Now, look here, Jim Hawkins," he said, in a steady whisper, that was no more than audible. 1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:
  2. (plural-normally) A rumor.
    • There are whispers of rebellion all around.
    • Time can never mend / The careless whispers of a good friend 1984, George Michael, Andrew Ridgeley, “Careless Whisper”:
  3. (figuratively) A faint trace or hint (of something).
    • The soup had just a whisper of basil.
  4. A low rustling sound, like that of the wind in leaves.
  5. (Internet) A private message to an individual in a chat room.
    • Anyone logged in to the chat room can click on an individual name, highlighting it, and send a message — a whisper — that will be seen only by the selected person. 2004, Caroline A. Haythornthwaite, Michelle M. Kazmer, Learning, Culture and Community in Online Education, page 179:
    • The invisibility of private interactions in the form of whispers resolved an ethical concern in the research but reduced our ability to gauge the volume of interaction […] 2002, Ralph Schroeder, The Social Life of Avatars, page 218:
  6. A projection of intention and influence caused by sending thoughts or desires outward through softly-spoken words or subtle mental or energetic means.
    • "Witches feel that anyone who is against them has to be destroyed. The method is to give the victim what we call a whispering. It is similar to the aborigine ceremony in Australia of singing someone to death. The witches gather in a circle and focus their hate on the persons they have in mind. These vibrations from their minds and voices carry whispers to the one who they are working against." 1965, Attila Zohar, Kings Cross Black Magic, Sydney: Horwitz Publications, page 66:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
whispers Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

whisper interpreting · kissper · whisperhood · a whisper down the lane · whisper test · Chinese whispers · stage whisper · pig's whisper · whisperous · in a pig's whisper · whispery · whisper network · whisper campaign · whispersome · whisper porn

Relateds

mul:W

Translations (124)

gl borboriño (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · de Geflüster (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · nb hvisking (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ms bisik-bisik (rumor) · th เสียงกระซิบ (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · cmn 耳語 /耳语 (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ta கிசுகிசு (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ca xiuxiueig (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · yi שעפּטש (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · eo flustro (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ilo arasaas (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ast esquiciu (faint trace or hint) · ga cogar (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ta துளி (faint trace or hint) · jv bisik (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · lt šnibždesys (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · id bisikan (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · cs šepot (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · mk шепот (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · el ψίθυρος (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · fa پچپچ (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · cmn 私語 /私语 (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · tr fısıltı (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · es rumor (rumor) · gl rumor (rumor) · tg пичир-пичир (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · es chamuyo (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · id pembisikan (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ms desas-desus (rumor) · io susuro (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · gl zunida (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · haw hāwanawana (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ru шёпот (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · da hvisken (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · gd cagar (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · hu suttogás (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · nn kviskring (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · fi yksityisviesti (internet: private message in a chat room) · yog anibib (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · lv čuksts (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · fo tesk (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · is pískra (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · sv viskning (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · sh ша̏па̄т (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · fa درگوشی (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ko 속삭임 (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · tk pyşyrdy (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ltg šveiksts (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · la susurrus (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ckb چرپان (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · de Wispern (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · se savkkus (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · pam sitsit (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ta கிசுகிசு (rumor) · mn шивнээ (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ja 囁き (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · arz وشوشة (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · lb Gepëspers (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · fi aavistus (faint trace or hint) · kaw wisik (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · yue 私語 /私语 (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · es susurro (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · it voci di corridoio (rumor) · el μουρμούρισμα (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ang rūn (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · wyi bran-bran-koejaraboline (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · sh šȁpāt (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · be шэпт (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ast ruxidoriu (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · es rastro (faint trace or hint) · bg ше́пот (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · fi kuiskailu (rumor) · hy շշուկ (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · vi thì thầm (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · cy sibrwd (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ast escatafín (faint trace or hint) · ceb hunghong (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · pt murmúrio (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · vi rì rầm (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · gl queixume (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ak ka asomsɛm (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · lt šnibždėjimas (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ms bisikan (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · gl bouga (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · fr chuchotement (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · fa نجوا (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ro șoaptă (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · gl azueira (rumor) · uk ше́піт (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · it sussurro (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · sl šepet (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ja 私語 (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · sk šepot (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · tl bulong (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ast carreru (faint trace or hint) · ast sonruxíu (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · lt šnabždesys (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ast sonruxíu (rumor) · lt kuždesys (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · nl gefluister (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · hil hutik (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · bcl hinghing (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ka ჩურჩული (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · fi kuiskaus (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · bg слух (rumor) · az pıçıltı (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · uga 𐎍𐎃𐎌𐎚 (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · gl gransolla (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · pl szept (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · krj hani (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ta கிசுகிசுப்பு (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ar هَمْس (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · he לָחַשׁ (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · te గుసగుస (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · et sosin (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · de Flüstern (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · pt sussurro (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · tr fısıltı (rumor) · cmn 低語 /低语 (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ckb چرپەچرپ (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · ta குசுகுசு (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · fa زمزمه (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · fo teskan (act of speaking in a quiet voice) · bg подшушване (faint trace or hint)

wikidata: Q1434962

whisper en · VERB

Pronunciation

  • /ˈ(h)wɪspɚ/ (General-American)
  • /ˈ(h)wɪspə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • (General-American) audio

Etymology

From Middle English whisperen, from Old English hwisprian (“to mutter, murmur, whisper”), from Proto-West Germanic *hwisprōn, from Proto-Germanic *hwisprōną (“to hiss, whistle, whisper”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱweys-, *ḱwey- (“to hiss, whistle, whisper”). Cognate with Dutch wisperen (“to whisper”), German wispern (“to mumble, whisper”). Related also to Danish hviske (“to whisper”), Icelandic hvískra (“to whisper”), Norwegian Bokmål hviske, kviskre (“to whisper”), Norwegian Nynorsk kviskre, kviskra (“to whisper”), Swedish viska (“to whisper”). More at English whistle.

Meanings

  1. (intransitive) To speak softly or under one's breath, so as to be heard only by one near at hand; to utter words without sonant breath; to talk without that vibration of the vocal cords which gives sonorous, or vocal, sound.
    • I can hear them whisper as we pass by It's a bad sign, bad sign 2014 October 27, Taylor Swift, Ryan Tedder, “I Know Places (Taylor's Version)”, in 1989 (Taylor's Version), performed by Taylor Swift, published 27 October 2023:
  2. (transitive) To say (something) softly or under one's breath, so as to be heard only by one near at hand; to utter (something) without sonant breath, without that vibration of the vocal cords which gives sonorous, or vocal, sound.
    • Whether he whispered sweet nothings to her in Stengelese is not known, but he did call her "the best catch I ever made in my career." 1981 April 15, Ira Berkow, “DRAMA IN 'STENGELESE: YOU CAN LOOK IT UP”, in The New York Times:
  3. (transitive) To mention privately and confidentially, or in a whisper.
    • They might buzz and whisper it one to another. 1692, Richard Bentley, [A Confutation of Atheism] (please specify the sermon), London: [Thomas Parkhurst; Henry Mortlock], published 1692–1693:
  4. (intransitive) To make a low, sibilant sound.
    • […] hear thy laurel whisper sweet About the ledges of the hill. 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXXVII”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 57:
    • the hollow, whispering breeze a. 1749 (date written), James Thomson, “Spring”, in The Seasons, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, and sold by Thomas Cadell, […], published 1768, →OCLC:
  5. (intransitive) To speak with suspicion or timorous caution; to converse in whispers, as in secret plotting.
    • All that hate me whisper together against me. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 41:7:
  6. (obsolete, transitive) To address in a whisper, or low voice.
    • where gentlest breezes whisper souls distressed 1827, [John Keble], The Christian Year: Thoughts in Verse for the Sundays and Holydays throughout the Year, volume (please specify |volume=I or II), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] [B]y W. Baxter, for J. Parker; and C[harles] and J[ohn] Rivington, […], →OCLC:
    • and whisper one another in the ear c. 1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Iohn”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
  7. (obsolete, transitive) To prompt secretly or cautiously; to inform privately.
    • [A] simple youth whispered me that he was an Illuminé, and carried on an intercourse with the invisible world. 1816, [Walter Scott], chapter XIII, in The Antiquary. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC, page 289:
    • He came to whisper Wolsey. 1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
  8. (Internet) To send a private message to an individual in a chat room.
  9. To exercise skill in taming or training a creature.
  10. To project intention and influence events by sending thoughts or desires outward through softly-spoken words or subtle mental or energetic means; to subject someone or something to this influence.
    • "Witches feel that anyone who is against them has to be destroyed. The method is to give the victim what we call a whispering. [...] The most frightening this is to be whispered when you're driving a car - it's nerve-racking." 1965, Attila Zohar, Kings Cross Black Magic, Sydney: Horwitz Publications, page 66:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
whispering Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
whispers Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
whispered Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
whispered Tense=Past lexicographic

Deriveds

whisperer · whisper down the lane

Synonyms

breathe · breathe

Translations (167)

ga bí ag cogarnach (talk in a quiet voice) · da hviske (talk in a quiet voice) · ur فسفسانا (talk in a quiet voice) · nb kviskre (talk in a quiet voice) · sq pëshpërit (talk in a quiet voice) · fr chuchoter (talk in a quiet voice) · nds-de sustern (talk in a quiet voice) · mk шепне (talk in a quiet voice) · vi thì thầm (talk in a quiet voice) · kw hwystra (talk in a quiet voice) · sk šeptať (talk in a quiet voice) · he לָחַשׁ (talk in a quiet voice) · sh šàptati (talk in a quiet voice) · hil hutik (talk in a quiet voice) · ky шыбыроо (talk in a quiet voice) · io susurar (talk in a quiet voice) · ru прошепта́ть (talk in a quiet voice) · grc ψιθυρίζω (talk in a quiet voice) · haw hāwanawana (talk in a quiet voice) · id membisiki (talk in a quiet voice) · lo ກະຊິບ (talk in a quiet voice) · te గుసగుసలాడు (talk in a quiet voice) · cy sibrwd (talk in a quiet voice) · my တီးတိုးပြော (talk in a quiet voice) · arz وشوش (talk in a quiet voice) · kl isussuppoq (talk in a quiet voice) · gl bisbar (talk in a quiet voice) · de flüstern (talk in a quiet voice) · pl szeptać (talk in a quiet voice) · sq fëshfërij (talk in a quiet voice) · eo flustri (talk in a quiet voice) · nl ruinen (talk in a quiet voice) · sh ша̀пнути (talk in a quiet voice) · sh шапу̀тати (talk in a quiet voice) · ca xiuxiuejar (talk in a quiet voice) · ceb hunghong (talk in a quiet voice) · lb pësperen (talk in a quiet voice) · ru шушу́каться (talk in a quiet voice) · yi שעפּטשען (talk in a quiet voice) · la susurrō (talk in a quiet voice) · ckb چرپاندن (talk in a quiet voice) · fo teska (talk in a quiet voice) · to fanafana (talk in a quiet voice) · ang rūnian (talk in a quiet voice) · fr murmurer (talk in a quiet voice) · sh ша̀птати (talk in a quiet voice) · kmr piste-pist kirin (talk in a quiet voice) · km ខ្សឹប (talk in a quiet voice) · es shushushar (talk in a quiet voice) · cmn 呢喃 (talk in a quiet voice) · fa نجوا کردن (talk in a quiet voice) · cmn 唧噥 /唧哝 (talk in a quiet voice) · cmn 耳語 /耳语 (talk in a quiet voice) · gl murmurar (talk in a quiet voice) · tk pyşyrdamak (talk in a quiet voice) · ast xunxurir (talk in a quiet voice) · sk šepkať (talk in a quiet voice) · hil huding-huding (talk in a quiet voice) · fa پچپچ کردن (talk in a quiet voice) · cmn 嘰咕 /叽咕 (talk in a quiet voice) · krj hani (talk in a quiet voice) · ja 囁く (talk in a quiet voice) · id berbisik (talk in a quiet voice) · nan-hbl 呲 (talk in a quiet voice) · ko 속삭이다 (talk in a quiet voice) · ro a șopti (talk in a quiet voice) · oc parlotejar (talk in a quiet voice) · ga labhair i gcogar (talk in a quiet voice) · tl ibulong (talk in a quiet voice) · tg пичир-пичир кардан (talk in a quiet voice) · enm rounen (talk in a quiet voice) · fy flústerje (talk in a quiet voice) · km ខ្សៀវ (talk in a quiet voice) · sl šepetati (talk in a quiet voice) · nrf chuchoter (talk in a quiet voice) · ug شىۋىرلىماق (talk in a quiet voice) · de wispern (talk in a quiet voice) · sh šapùtati (talk in a quiet voice) · ilo iarasaas (talk in a quiet voice) · cmn 竊竊私語 /窃窃私语 (talk in a quiet voice) · ka ჩურჩული (talk in a quiet voice) · fi kuiskata (talk in a quiet voice) · gd cagair (talk in a quiet voice) · nn kviskra (talk in a quiet voice) · ast xuxurir (talk in a quiet voice) · rm scutinar (talk in a quiet voice) · ovd twiså (talk in a quiet voice) · ia susurrar (talk in a quiet voice) · hu suttog (talk in a quiet voice) · sv viska (talk in a quiet voice) · hy շշնջալ (talk in a quiet voice) · tk wyşyrdamak (talk in a quiet voice) · cmn 哼唧 (talk in a quiet voice) · nl fezelen (talk in a quiet voice) · nds-de suustern (talk in a quiet voice) · bg ше́пна (talk in a quiet voice) · uz shivirlamoq (talk in a quiet voice) · uk шепну́ти (talk in a quiet voice) · th กระซิบ (talk in a quiet voice) · uz pichirlamoq (talk in a quiet voice) · is pukra (talk in a quiet voice) · sh šàpnuti (talk in a quiet voice) · fr susurrer (talk in a quiet voice) · ps پسنېدل (talk in a quiet voice) · nn kviskre (talk in a quiet voice) · ilo agarasaas (talk in a quiet voice) · pt sussurrar (talk in a quiet voice) · be шапта́ць (talk in a quiet voice) · nl vezelen (talk in a quiet voice) · ro a susura (talk in a quiet voice) · uk шепта́ти (talk in a quiet voice) · it sussurrare (talk in a quiet voice) · is hvísla (talk in a quiet voice) · ast xunxuriar (talk in a quiet voice) · is hvískra (talk in a quiet voice) · pam bulung (talk in a quiet voice) · cs šeptat (talk in a quiet voice) · es chamuyar (talk in a quiet voice) · is pískra (talk in a quiet voice) · vi nói thầm (talk in a quiet voice) · ms berbisik (talk in a quiet voice) · nl wisperen (talk in a quiet voice) · nl fluisteren (talk in a quiet voice) · mn шивнэх (talk in a quiet voice) · mnw က္သေဲ (talk in a quiet voice) · be шапну́ць (talk in a quiet voice) · cmn 低語 /低语 (talk in a quiet voice) · nb hviske (talk in a quiet voice) · ar وَسْوَسَ (talk in a quiet voice) · lt šnibždėti (talk in a quiet voice) · es susurrar (talk in a quiet voice) · nds-de munkeln (talk in a quiet voice) · ru шепта́ть (talk in a quiet voice) · ug پىچىرلىماق (talk in a quiet voice) · ta கிசுகிசு (talk in a quiet voice) · ms bisik (talk in a quiet voice) · izh sopottaa (talk in a quiet voice) · es gaguear (talk in a quiet voice) · oj gaaskanazo (talk in a quiet voice) · ar هَمَسَ (talk in a quiet voice) · lv čukstēt (talk in a quiet voice) · mk шепоти (talk in a quiet voice) · ovd wiså (talk in a quiet voice) · non hvískra (talk in a quiet voice) · de wispeln (talk in a quiet voice) · kk сыбырлау (talk in a quiet voice) · sm musumusu (talk in a quiet voice) · el ψιθυρίζω (talk in a quiet voice) · az pıçıldamaq (talk in a quiet voice) · cmn 唧唧咕咕 (talk in a quiet voice) · mk шепнува (talk in a quiet voice) · nds-de tuscheln (talk in a quiet voice) · tl bumulong (talk in a quiet voice) · ta குசுகுசு (talk in a quiet voice) · cmn 打耳唧 (talk in a quiet voice) · bg шептя́ (talk in a quiet voice) · cmn 嘀咕 (talk in a quiet voice) · pt cochichar (talk in a quiet voice) · et sosistama (talk in a quiet voice) · pt murmurar (talk in a quiet voice) · pl szepnąć (talk in a quiet voice) · lt šnabždėti (talk in a quiet voice) · ru шепну́ть (talk in a quiet voice) · fy wispearje (talk in a quiet voice) · tr fısıldamak (talk in a quiet voice) · hi फुसफुसाना (talk in a quiet voice) · cmn 打喳喳 (talk in a quiet voice)