whisper

Meanings

1. The act of speaking in a quiet voice, especially without vibration of the vocal cords; the sound thus produced.
2. A rumor.
3. A faint trace or hint (of something).
4. A low rustling sound, like that of the wind in leaves.
5. A private message to an individual in a chat room.
6. A projection of intention and influence caused by sending thoughts or desires outward through softly-spoken words or subtle mental or energetic means.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. To mention privately and confidentially, or in a whisper.
4. To make a low, sibilant sound.
5. To speak with suspicion or timorous caution; to converse in whispers, as in secret plotting.
6. To address in a whisper, or low voice.
7. To prompt secretly or cautiously; to inform privately.
8. To send a private message to an individual in a chat room.
9. To exercise skill in taming or training a creature.
10. 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.

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.