Mawson, C.O.S., ed. (1870–1938). Roget’s International Thesaurus. 1922.
NOUN:FAINTNESS &c. adj.; faint sound, whisper, breath; undertone, underbreath; murmur, hum, buzz, purr, lap [of waves], plash; sough, moan, rustle, susurration [rare], tinkle; “still small voice.”HOARSENESS &c. adj.
SILENCER, muffler; soft pedal, damper, mute, sordino [It.], sordine [all music].
VERB:WHISPER, breathe; mutter (speak imperfectly) [See Stammering]; susurrate [rare].
MURMUR, purl, hum, gurgle, ripple, babble, flow; rustle, tinkle.
steal on the ear, melt in the air, float on the air.
MUFFLE, deaden, mute, subdue.
ADJECTIVE:FAINT, scarcely -, barely -, just- audible; low, dull; stifled, muffled; inaudible; hoarse, husky; gentle, soft; floating; purling, flowing &c. v.; muttered; whispered &c. v.; liquid; soothing; dulcet (melodious) [See Melody. Concord]; susurrant [rare], susurrous [rare].
ADVERB:IN A WHISPER, with bated breath, sotto voce [It.], between the teeth, aside; piano, pianissimo [both music], sordamente [It.], sordo [It.], à la sourdine [F.]; out of earshot; inaudibly &c. adj.
QUOTATIONS:
- The mingled notes came softened from below.—Goldsmith
- The beetle winds His small but sullen horn.—Collins
- A little noiseless noise among the leaves, Born of the very sigh that silence heaves.—Keats
- ’Twas whispered in heaven, ’twas muttered in hell, And echo caught faintly the sound as it fell.—Fanshawe