Word of the Day

Friday, January 20, 2006

susurration

\soo-suh-RAY-shun\ , noun;

A whispering sound; a soft murmur.

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Quotes:

. . .the soft susurration of the wind through a stand of whistling thorn.

-- Ann Jones, "Kenya on horseback", Town & Country, August 1, 1994

Across the road I can make out the grassy park that runs along the sand and hear, in the distance, the steady susurration of the Atlantic Ocean.

-- Michael Dirda, "Excursions", Washington Post, January 2, 2000

There was the predictable noise of offence being taken on the Conservative side of the House. But it was low and muted, a mild susurration in the backwoods rather than an outraged gust of anger.

-- Andrew Marr, "Making a prime minister of the President", Independent, March 30, 1994

Origin:

Susurration is from Late Latin susurratio, from Latin susurrare, "to whisper, to mutter," from susurrus, "a whispering, a muttering."