Muttering

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Mutter \Mut"ter\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Muttered}; p. pr. & vb.
     n. {Muttering}.] [Prob. of imitative origin; cf. L. muttire,
     mutire.]
     1. To utter words indistinctly or with a low voice and lips
        partly closed; esp., to utter indistinct complaints or
        angry expressions; to grumble; to growl.


        [1913 Webster]
  
              Wizards that peep, and that mutter.   --Is. viii.
                                                    19.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Meantime your filthy foreigner will stare,
              And mutter to himself.                --Dryden.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To sound with a low, rumbling noise.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Thick lightnings flash, the muttering thunder rolls.
                                                    --Pope.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  muttering
       adj : speaking low and indistinctly; "a mumbling parson stood
             beside the dying man"; "muttering crowds of onlookers"
             [syn: {mumbling}]
       n 1: a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by
            movement of the lips without the production of
            articulate speech [syn: {mutter}, {murmur}, {murmuring},
             {murmuration}, {mussitation}]
       2: a complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone [syn: {grumble},
           {grumbling}, {murmur}, {murmuring}, {mutter}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  79 Moby Thesaurus words for "muttering":
     aspiration, bated breath, beefing, bellyaching, bitching, breath,
     breathy voice, complaining, complaintful, crabbing, crabby, cranky,
     croaking, disappointed, discontented, disgruntled, displeased,
     dissatisfied, drone, droning, envious, exhalation, faultfinding,
     gabble, gibber, gibbering, griping, grouchy, grousing, growling,
     grumbling, jabber, jibber, little voice, low voice, malcontent,
     malcontented, maundering, mouthing, mumble, mumbling, murmur,
     murmuration, murmuring, murmurish, murmurous, mutter, out of humor,
     peevish, petulant, querulant, querulous, rebellious, resentful,
     restive, restless, rustling, sigh, soft voice, stage whisper,
     still small voice, sulky, susurrant, susurration, susurrous,
     susurrus, unaccepting, unaccommodating, underbreath, undertone,
     uneasy, unfulfilled, ungratified, unhappy, unsatisfied, whiny,
     whisper, whispering, whispery