whisper meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

whisper

noun

UK /ˈ(h)wɪspə/ · US /ˈ(h)wɪspɚ/

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.

The act of speaking in a quiet voice, especially without vibration of the vocal cords; the sound thus produced.

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:

1 more example

You know love is everything you say / A whisper, a word / Promises you give2005 December 2, “Amarantine”, in Roma Ryan (lyrics), Enya (music), Amarantine, performed by Enya:

Plural normally A rumor.

There are whispers of rebellion all around.
Time can never mend / The careless whispers of a good friend1984, George Michael, Andrew Ridgeley, “Careless Whisper”:

Figuratively A faint trace or hint (of something).

The soup had just a whisper of basil.

A low rustling sound, like that of the wind in leaves.

Internet A private message to an individual in a chat room.

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:
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:

Human sciences, Mysticism, Occult, Philosophy, Sciences 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:

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

whisper

verb

10 senses

1To speak softly or under one's breath, so as to be heard…
2To say (something) softly or under one's breath, so as…
3To mention privately and confidentially, or in a whisper.
4To make a low, sibilant sound.
5To speak with suspicion or timorous caution; to converse…
6To address in a whisper, or low voice.
7To prompt secretly or cautiously; to inform privately.
8To send a private message to an individual in a chat room.
9To exercise skill in taming or training a creature.
10To project intention and influence events by sending…

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 sign2014 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:

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:

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:

To make a low, sibilant sound.

the hollow, whispering breezea. 1749 (date written), James Thomson, “Spring”, in The Seasons, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, and sold by Thomas Cadell, […], published 1768, →OCLC:
[…] 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:

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:

Obsolete To address in a whisper, or low voice.

and whisper one another in the earc. 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]:
where gentlest breezes whisper souls distressed1827, [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:

Obsolete To prompt secretly or cautiously; to inform privately.

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]:
[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:

Internet To send a private message to an individual in a chat room.

To exercise skill in taming or training a creature.

Human sciences, Mysticism, Occult, Philosophy, Sciences 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:

Derived terms: whisper down the lane, whisperer

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