In the Soliloquy lexicon
susurrus
A soft whispering, murmuring, or rustling sound.
Used in a sentence
The susurrus of leaves filled the quiet garden.
Where it comes from
From Latin susurrus “a humming, whispering, or rustling,” probably imitative of the sound itself.
Its journey
Susurrus began in Latin, where susurrus meant a hum, whisper, or murmur, probably echoing the sound itself. English borrowed it in the nineteenth century, preserving both its Latin form and its hushed sense: the noise of leaves, low voices, or anything that seems to speak beneath its breath.
A small story
After the last train had gone, Mrs Vale stood beneath the plane trees, reluctant to unlock her empty house. A susurrus moved through the leaves above her, like silk being folded in another room. She listened until the sound thinned into rain.
Nearby words
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