whisper

plural whispers

1. 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.

   2 more examples

   "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

   You know love is everything you say / A whisper, a word / Promises you give

   2005 December 2, “Amarantine”, in Roma Ryan (lyrics), Enya (music), Amarantine, performed by Enya

2. plural normallyA rumor.

   There are whispers of rebellion all around.

   1 more example

   Time can never mend / The careless whispers of a good friend

   1984, George Michael, Andrew Ridgeley, “Careless Whisper”

3. figurativelyA 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. InternetA private message to an individual in a chat room.

   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

   1 more example

   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

6. human sciencesA projection of intention and influence caused by sending thoughts or desires outward through softly-spoken words or subtle mental or energetic means.

   1 more example

   "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

present singular third person whispers · participle present whispering · participle past whispered · past whispered

1. intransitiveTo 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 sign

   2014 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

   Synonyms: breathe

2. transitiveTo 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

   Synonyms: breathe

3. transitiveTo 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

4. intransitiveTo make a low, sibilant sound.

   the hollow, whispering breeze

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

   1 more example

   […] 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

5. intransitiveTo 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

6. obsoletetransitiveTo address in a whisper, or low voice.

   and whisper one another in the ear

   c. 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]

   1 more example

   where gentlest breezes whisper souls distressed

   1827, [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

7. obsoletetransitiveTo 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]

   1 more example

   [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

8. InternetTo send a private message to an individual in a chat room.
9. To exercise skill in taming or training a creature.
10. human sciencesTo 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