Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Susurrus


Su-sur′rus

,
Noun.
[L.]
The act of whispering; a whisper; a murmur.
De Quincey.
The soft
susurrus
and sighs of the branches.
Longfellow.

Definition 2024


susurrus

susurrus

English

Noun

susurrus (plural susurruses)

  1. (literary) A whispering or rustling sound; a murmur.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of De Quincey to this entry?)
    The soft susurrus and sighs of the branches. Longfellow.
    • 2000, George R. R. Martin, A Storm of Swords, ISBN 9780553106633, page 555:
      They heard the Green Fork before they saw it, an endless susurrus, like the growl of some great beast.
    • 2004, Gregory David Roberts, Shantaram: A Novel, ISBN 0312330529, page 613:
      I sipped at a drink and smoked cigarettes in a silence so profound that I could hear the susurrus of the blindfold's soft fabric rustle and slip between my fingers.
    • 2007, Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind, ISBN 9780756404741, page 301:
      I walked steadily toward the pennant pole amid a sea of susurrus murmurings.
    • 2008, Neil Gaiman, The Graveyard Book, ISBN 0060530928, page 262:
      Bod could feel the Sleer listening to Jack's words, could feel a low susurrus of excitement building in the chamber.

Related terms

Translations


Latin

Etymology

Reduplication of imitative Proto-Indo-European *swer- (to buzz, hum). See also Latin surdus, Lithuanian surma (a pipe), Russian свире́ль (svirélʹ, a pipe, reed).

Pronunciation

  • (Classical) IPA(key): /suˈsur.rus/, [sʊˈsʊr.rʊs]

Noun

susurrus m (genitive susurrī); second declension

  1. whisper
  2. murmur

Inflection

Second declension.

Case Singular Plural
nominative susurrus susurrī
genitive susurrī susurrōrum
dative susurrō susurrīs
accusative susurrum susurrōs
ablative susurrō susurrīs
vocative susurre susurrī

Descendants

References