susurration

[soo-suh-rey-shuh n]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR susurration ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a soft murmur; whisper.

Origin of susurration

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin susurrātiōn- (stem of susurrātiō), equivalent to susurrāt(us) (past participle of susurrāre; see susurrus, -ate¹) + -iōn- -ion

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for susurration

susurrus, purr, undertone, babble, whisper, grumble, mutter, hum, rumble, drone, sigh, whispering, humming, mumble, rumor, buzz, muttering, murmuration, sough, buzzing

Examples from the Web for susurration

Historical Examples of susurration

His own name, pronounced in the utmost compression of susurration, they say, he catches at a quarter furlong interval.
The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb
Charles Lamb
If he had read his Biffin he would have known that the correct terms are a "susurration of sparrows" and a "pop of weasels."
Punch or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, December 9, 1914
Various

Word Origin and History for susurration

"whisper, murmur," c.1400, from Latin susurrationem (nominative susurratio), from past participle stem of susurrare, from susurrus "murmur, whisper," a reduplication of the PIE imitative base *swer- (2) "to buzz, whisper" (cf. Sanskrit svarati "sounds, resounds," Greek syrinx "flute," Latin surdus "dull, mute," Old Church Slavonic svirati "to whistle," Lithuanian surmo "pipe, shawm," German schwirren "to buzz," Old English swearm "swarm").