Whis"per (?), v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Whispered (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Whispering.] [AS. hwisprian; akin to G. wispern,
wispeln, OHG. hwispal&?;n, Icel. hvīskra, Sw.
hviska, Dan. hviske; of imitative origin. Cf.
Whistle.]
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.
Thomson.
3. To speak with suspicion, or timorous caution; to
converse in whispers, as in secret plotting.
All that hate me whisper together against
me.
Ps. xli. 7.
Whis"per, 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.
Bentley.
2. To address in a whisper, or low voice.
[Archaic]
And whisper one another in the ear.
Shak.
Where gentlest breezes whisper souls
distressed.
Keble.
3. To prompt secretly or cautiously; to inform
privately. [Obs.] "He came to whisper Wolsey."
Shak.
Whis"per, 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, and
Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 5, 153, 154.
The inward voice or whisper can not give a
tone.
Bacon.
Soft whispers through the assembly went.
Dryden.
2. A cautious or timorous speech.
South.
3. Something communicated in secret or by
whispering; a suggestion or insinuation.
4. A low, sibilant sound. "The
whispers of the leaves." Tennyson.
Whis"per (?), v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Whispered (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Whispering.] [AS. hwisprian; akin to G. wispern,
wispeln, OHG. hwispal&?;n, Icel. hvīskra, Sw.
hviska, Dan. hviske; of imitative origin. Cf.
Whistle.]
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.
Thomson.
3. To speak with suspicion, or timorous caution; to
converse in whispers, as in secret plotting.
All that hate me whisper together against
me.
Ps. xli. 7.
Whis"per, 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.
Bentley.
2. To address in a whisper, or low voice.
[Archaic]
And whisper one another in the ear.
Shak.
Where gentlest breezes whisper souls
distressed.
Keble.
3. To prompt secretly or cautiously; to inform
privately. [Obs.] "He came to whisper Wolsey."
Shak.
Whis"per, 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, and
Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 5, 153, 154.
The inward voice or whisper can not give a
tone.
Bacon.
Soft whispers through the assembly went.
Dryden.
2. A cautious or timorous speech.
South.
3. Something communicated in secret or by
whispering; a suggestion or insinuation.
4. A low, sibilant sound. "The
whispers of the leaves." Tennyson.