mumble

Etymology

From Middle English momelen, a frequentative of mum (sense 3) (“silent”). Compare German mümmeln, Middle Dutch mommelen and Dutch mompelen.

verb

  1. (transitive, intransitive) To speak unintelligibly or inaudibly; to fail to articulate.
    Please try not to mumble so I can hear you better.
    A wrinkled hag, with age grown double, / Picking dry sticks, and mumbling to herself. 1680, Thomas Otway, The Orphan
  2. To chew something gently with closed lips.

noun

  1. A quiet or unintelligible vocalization; a low tone of voice.
    All I could hear was a mumble from the next room.
    He spoke in a barely comprehensible mumble.

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