Also 5–6 -acyo(u)n, 6 erron. sussur-. [ad. L. susurrātio, -ōnem, f. susurrāre: see prec. and -ATION.] Whispering; occas. a whisper; in early use, malicious whispering, tattle.
a. 1400. Pauline Episties, 2 Cor. xii. 20. Discencyouns, bacbytyngys, susurracyouns.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), II. ix. 110. Susurration is for to speke cursed langage by malice for to put noyses in some persones.
1503. Kalender of Sheph., c vij. The branchys of enwy detraccyon, adulacyon, sussuracyon.
1525. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 90 b. Susurracyon or preuy sclaundre.
1630. I. Craven, Serm. (1631), 28. The secret susurrations and buzzings of false tongues.
1657. Tomlinson, Renou’s Disp., 22. Apuleius … asserts that by a magical susurration … rivers are turned back.
1708. Brit. Apollo, No. 33. 2/1. To Inlighten their Offuscated Intellects, upon the least Petitionary Susurration.
1825. Lamb, Lett. to Manning, in Final Mem., vii. 256. Not a susurration of this to anybody!
1855. De Quincey, in ‘H. A. Page,’ Life (1877), II. xviii. 99. Every syllable and fragment of susurration that might … betray the tendency of our colloquy.
1892. Harper’s Mag., Aug., 331/1. The crossing of the hands is accompanied by a muttering and susurration of the lips.
b. transf. A rustling murmur.
1640. Howell, Dodona’s Gr., 2. Those soft susurrations of the Trees.
1867. Macm. Mag., Jan., 234/1. There is no sound but the susurration of the taller trees.
1888. Harper’s Mag., April, 736. There is a constant susurration, a blattering and swarming of crustacea.
