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whisper (v.)

Old English hwisprian "speak very softly, murmur" (only in a Northumbrian gloss for Latin murmurare), from Proto-Germanic *hwis- (source also of Middle Dutch wispelen, Old High German hwispalon, German wispeln, wispern, Old Norse hviskra "to whisper"), from PIE *kwei- "to hiss, whistle," imitative. Transitive sense is from 1560s. Related: Whispered; whispering. An alternative verb, now obsolete, was whister (late 14c., from Old English hwæstrian), and Middle English had whistringe grucchere "a slanderer."

whisper (n.)

1590s, from whisper (v.).

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Definitions of whisper from WordNet
1
whisper (n.)
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords;
Synonyms: whispering / susurration / voicelessness
whisper (n.)
a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind;
Synonyms: rustle / rustling / whispering
2
whisper (v.)
speak softly; in a low voice;
From wordnet.princeton.edu