Whimpering is spelled with eight letters and is pronounced /ˈwɪmpərɪŋ/. The word is derived from the Old English word "wimman" which means "to whine". It describes the soft, sobbing sound that arises from a cry that is punctuated by small gasps. The "wh" digraph at the beginning of the spelling represents the voiceless labiovelar fricative sound, while the "mp" letters represent a nasal consonant followed by a plosive. The final "er" sound is pronounced as a schwa, making the word's final syllable weak.
Whimpering is a verb that refers to the act of making soft, low, and plaintive sounds as a result of fear, pain, or distress. This term commonly describes a vocalization made by animals, particularly dogs, but it can also apply to humans, especially infants or young children.
When an individual is whimpering, they emit a series of weak, high-pitched cries or whines that typically convey a sense of vulnerability or discomfort. The sound produced during whimpering is often accompanied by physical signs, such as trembling, trembling lips, or tears streaming down the face, which further demonstrate the emotional distress experienced by the individual.
Whimpering typically arises from a heightened state of anxiety, fear, or pain. As such, it can serve as an instinctual response to seek attention, reassurance, or help from others. It may also be a means of communicating a need for comfort or support in attempting to alleviate the source of distress.
In some contexts, the term "whimpering" may be used metaphorically to describe behaviors or vocalizations that resemble the sound and emotional connotation associated with this vocalization. For example, in literature, a character's speech or demeanor may be described as whimpering to depict a sense of weakness or helplessness.
A low, muttering cry.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "whimpering" is derived from the Middle English term "whimmeren", which can be traced back to the Old English word "hwimrian". This Old English root word originally meant "to wander" or "to moan", and it evolved over time to specifically refer to the sound made by a person or an animal who is sobbing or crying softly. The word "whimpering" thus emerged to describe the action or sound associated with this type of soft, plaintive crying.