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the still, small voice

 - 4 dictionary results

voice

[vois] ,noun, verb, voiced, voic⋅ing, adjective
–noun
1. the sound or sounds uttered through the mouth of living creatures, esp. of human beings in speaking, shouting, singing, etc.
2. the faculty or power of uttering sounds through the mouth by the controlled expulsion of air; speech: to lose one's voice.
3. a range of such sounds distinctive to one person, or to a type of person or animal: Her voice is commanding.
4. the condition or effectiveness of the voice for speaking or singing: to be in poor voice.
5. a sound likened to or resembling vocal utterance: the voice of the wind.
6. something likened to speech as conveying impressions to the mind: the voice of nature.
7. expression in spoken or written words, or by other means: to give voice to one's disapproval by a letter.
8. the right to present and receive consideration of one's desires or opinions: We were given no voice in the election.
9. an expressed opinion or choice: a voice for compromise.
10. an expressed will or desire: the voice of the people.
11. expressed wish or injunction: obedient to the voice of God.
12. the person or other agency through which something is expressed or revealed: a warning that proved to be the voice of prophecy.
13. a singer: one of our best voices.
14. a voice part: a score for piano and voice.
15. Phonetics. the audible result of phonation and resonance.
16. Grammar.
a. a set of categories for which the verb is inflected in some languages, as Latin, and which is typically used to indicate the relation of the verbal action to the subject as performer, undergoer, or beneficiary of its action.
b. a set of syntactic devices in some languages, as English, that is similar to this set in function.
c. any of the categories of these sets: the English passive voice; the Greek middle voice.
17. the finer regulation, as of intensity and color, in tuning, esp. of a piano or organ.
–verb (used with object)
18. to give utterance or expression to; declare; proclaim: to voice one's discontent.
19. Music.
a. to regulate the tone of, as the pipes of an organ.
b. to write the voice parts for (music).
20. to utter with the voice.
21. Phonetics. to pronounce with glottal vibration.
22. to interpret from sign language into spoken language.
–adjective
23. Computers. of or pertaining to the use of human or synthesized speech: voice-data entry; voice output.
24. Telecommunications. of or pertaining to the transmission of speech or data over media designed for the transmission of speech: voice-grade channel; voice-data network.
25. the still, small voice, the conscience: He was only occasionally troubled by the still, small voice.
26. with one voice, in accord; unanimously: They arose and with one voice acclaimed the new president.

Origin:
1250–1300; ME (n.) < AF voiz, voice (OF voiz, vois) < L vōcem, acc. of vōx; akin to vocāre to call, Gk óps voice, épos word (see epic ), Skt vakti (he) speaks


voicer, noun


5. cry, call. 6. sound, language, speech, tongue. 11. order, command. 12. mouthpiece, organ. 18. reveal, disclose, publish.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

voice  (n.)
c.1290, "sound made by the human mouth," from O.Fr. voiz, from L. vocem (nom. vox) "voice, sound, utterance, cry, call, speech, sentence, language, word," related to vocare "to call," from PIE base *wek- "give vocal utterance, speak" (cf. Skt. vakti "speaks, says," vacas- "word;" Avestan vac- "speak, say;" Gk. aor. eipon "spoke, said," epos "word;" O.Prus. wackis "cry;" Ger. er-wähnen "to mention"). Replaced O.E. stefn. Meaning "ability in a singer" is first attested 1607. Verb meaning "to express" (a feeling, opinion, etc.) first attested 1607. The noun in this sense (in ref. to groups of people, etc., e.g. Voice of America) is recorded from 1390.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: voice
Pronunciation: 'vois
Function: noun
1 : sound produced by vertebrates by means of lungs, larynx, or syrinx; especially : sound so produced by human beings
2 : the faculty of utterance : SPEECHvoice transitive verb voiced; voic·ing
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

voice (vois)
n.
The sound made by air passing out through the larynx and upper respiratory tract and produced by the vibration of the vocal organs.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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