Hypertext Webster Gateway: "whispering"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Whisper \Whis"per\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Whispered}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Whispering}.] [AS. hwisprian; akin to G. wispern,
wispeln, OHG. hwispal?n, Icel. hv[=i]skra, 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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Whispering \Whis"per*ing\,
a. & n. from {Whisper}. v. t.
{Whispering gallery}, or {Whispering dome}, one of such a
form that sounds produced in certain parts of it are
concentrated by reflection from the walls to another part,
so that whispers or feeble sounds are audible at a much
greater distance than under ordinary circumstances.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
whispering
adj : making a low continuous indistinct sound; "like murmuring
waves"; "susurrant voices" [syn: {murmuring}, {susurrant}]
n 1: the light noise like the noise of silk clothing or leaves
blowing in the wind [syn: {rustle}, {rustling}, {whisper}]
2: speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords [syn: {whisper},
{susurration}]
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