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whis·per

(wĭspər, hwĭs-)

1. Soft speech produced without using the full voice.

2. Something uttered very softly: overheard his whisper.

3. A secretly or surreptitiously expressed belief, rumor, or hint: whispers of scandal.

4. A low rustling sound: the whisper of wind in the pines.

v. whis·pered, whis·per·ing, whis·pers

v.intr.

1. To speak softly.

2. To speak quietly and privately, as by way of gossip, slander, or intrigue.

3. To make a soft rustling sound.

v.tr.

1. To utter very softly.

2. To say or tell privately or secretly.

[From Middle English whisperen, to whisper, from Old English hwisprian.]

whisper·er n.

whisper·y adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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