whisper

From Middle English whisperen, from Old English hwisprian (“to mutter, murmur, whisper”), from Proto-Germanic *hwisprōną. Cognate with Dutch wisperen (“to whisper”), German Low German wispeln (“to whisper”), German wispern (“to mumble, whisper”). Related also to Danish hviske (“to whisper”), Swedish viska (“to whisper”), Norwegian hviske (“to whisper”), Icelandic hvískra and hvísla (“to whisper”). More at English whistle.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈ(h)wɪspə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈ(h)wɪspɚ/

• Audio (GA)

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• Rhymes: -ɪspə(ɹ)

whisper (plural whispers)

1. The act of speaking in a quiet voice, especially, without vibration of the vocal cords.
   • 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island:

     "Now, look here, Jim Hawkins," he said, in a steady whisper, that was no more than audible.

2. (usually in the plural) A rumor.

   There are whispers of rebellion all around.

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.
   • 2002, Ralph Schroeder, The Social Life of Avatars (page 218)

     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 […]

   • 2004, Caroline A. Haythornthwaite, Michelle M. Kazmer, Learning, Culture and Community in Online Education (page 179)

     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.

• stage whisper
• whisper campaign
• whisperous
• whispersome
• whispery

whisper (third-person singular simple present whispers, present participle whispering, simple past and past participle whispered)

1. (intransitive) 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.
2. (transitive) To mention privately and confidentially, or in a whisper.
   • Bentley

     They might buzz and whisper it one to another.

3. (intransitive) To make a low, sibilant sound.
   • Thomson

     the hollow, whispering breeze

4. (intransitive) To speak with suspicion or timorous caution; to converse in whispers, as in secret plotting.
   • Bible, Psalms xli. 7

     All that hate me whisper together against me.

5. (transitive, obsolete) To address in a whisper, or low voice.
   • Shakespeare

     and whisper one another in the ear

   • Keble

     where gentlest breezes whisper souls distressed

6. (transitive, obsolete) To prompt secretly or cautiously; to inform privately.
   • Shakespeare

     He came to whisper Wolsey.

• whisperer