murmurous

American  

[mur-mer-uhs] / ˈmɜr mər əs /

adjective

1. abounding in or characterized by murmurs.

2. murmuring; indistinctly low.

   murmurous waters.

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Usage

What does murmurous mean? Murmurous is used to describe something or someone that’s murmuring—making a continuous, low, and indistinct sound. Such a sound can be called a murmur. Examples include the sound of water in a stream, the wind through the trees, and the low, muffled sound of a TV in another room. This is the way the word is used in the phrase the murmur of the crowd, which refers to the collective sound of a lot of people talking at once. In contrast, the roar of the crowd refers to collective cheering and is much louder. Murmur also means to say something in a low tone that can’t be easily understood. Similar words are mutter and mumble. Murmuring in this way is often done to express discontent with whatever one is talking about. The thing that’s said can be called a murmur. This sense of murmur can also be used in a more figurative way to refer to a private expression of discontent, as in There were murmurs about a strike.  Murmurous can be used in all of these contexts. The adjective murmuring can be used to mean the same thing in most cases. Example: The murmurous creek was as good as a lullaby, soothing me to sleep.

Other Word Forms

• murmurously adverb
• unmurmurous adjective
• unmurmurously adverb

Etymology

Origin of murmurous

First recorded in 1575–85; murmur + -ous

Explanation

Anything that's murmurous sounds indistinct and quiet, like the soft, murmurous rustling of leaves in the trees on a breezy summer night. This adjective comes from the noun murmur, which came to be defined as "softly spoken words" in the late 17th century but originally referred to an expression of discontent by grumbling. It shares an imitative root with the Sanskrit murmurah, "crackling fire." Murmurous things sound like people murmuring, or speaking so softly you can't necessarily hear what they're saying.

Example Sentences

I can hear the murmurous, gently swelling music of Rotview Balcony, a place of crimson skies and arid landscape, playing from the other room where the game is idling as I type this sentence.

From Washington Post • Mar. 4, 2022

“What’s Wrong”: Late-night bits-and-pieces jazz-clatter, murmurous moody vocals.

From Slate • Sep. 21, 2012

He wrote: “This is another world — terrifying to the outsider, yet imposing in its strangeness — behind those massive walls, in this murmurous darkness, within the temporary but real power of desperate men.”

From New York Times • Nov. 25, 2011

Great virtuosi, who know how to mingle murmurous, tinkling and strident sounds, might be said to possess the "Great Ear."

From Time Magazine Archive

The afternoon air was warm and still, and the shade of the tree was drowsy and murmurous with crickets.

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman