susurration

American  

[soo-suh-rey-shuhn] / ˌsu səˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. a soft murmur; whisper.

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Etymology

Origin of susurration

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin susurrātiōn- (stem of susurrātiō ), equivalent to susurrāt(us) (past participle of susurrāre; see susurrus, -ate ¹) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

The delicate-sounding word susurration comes by its gentleness naturally — it’s a very soft whispering sound that can barely be heard. Susurration is a sound made with very little stirring of the vocal cords, resulting in the softest of sounds. The effect is as soft and calming as the word itself. This word is onomatopoeic, meaning it sounds like what it means: a susurration creates a sense of soft sound swirling around your ears pleasantly. This is the opposite of words like racket and cacophony — loud, unpleasant noises. A susurration is so soft you might not even notice it at all.