Mutter

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive)
• HYPHEN: mut=ter

CIDE DICTIONARY

Mutter, v. i. [Prob. of imitative origin; cf. L. muttire, mutire.].

•  To utter words indistinctly or with a low voice and lips partly closed; esp., to utter indistinct complaints or angry expressions; to grumble; to growl.  [1913 Webster]

  "Wizards that peep, and that mutter."  [1913 Webster]

  "Meantime your filthy foreigner will stare,
  And mutter to himself."  [1913 Webster]
•  To sound with a low, rumbling noise.  [1913 Webster]

  "Thick lightnings flash, the muttering thunder rolls."  [1913 Webster]

Mutter, v. t. 

 To utter with imperfect articulations, or with a low voice; as, to mutter threats.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

Mutter, n. 

 Repressed or obscure utterance.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Mutter, v. & n.
--v.
1 intr. speak low in a barely audible manner.
2 intr. (often foll. by against, at) murmur or grumble about.
3 tr. utter (words etc.) in a low tone.
4 tr. say in secret.
--n.
1 muttered words or sounds.
2 muttering.

Derivative

mutterer n. mutteringly adv.

Etymology

ME, rel. to MUTE

THESAURUS

Mutter

air a grievance, aspirate, aspiration, bark, bated breath, bawl, beef, bellow, bellyache, bitch, blare, blat, blubber, boom, bray, breath, breathe, breathy voice, buzz, cackle, chant, chirp, clamor, complain, coo, crab, croak, crow, cry, dolorous tirade, drawl, drone, droning, exclaim, exhalation, flute, fret, fret and fume, fumble, fuss, gabble, gasp, gibber, gibbering, gripe, groan, grouch, grouse, growl, grumble, grunt, hiss, holler, howl, jabber, jeremiad, jibber, keen, kick, lament, lilt, little voice, lodge a complaint, low voice, maffle, maunder, maundering, moan, mouth, mouthing, muddle, mumble, mumbling, murmur, murmuration, murmuring, mussitate, muttering, outcry, pant, pipe, plaint, planctus, raise a howl, register a complaint, repine, roar, rumble, rumor, scold, scream, screech, shriek, sibilate, sigh, sing, snap, snarl, snort, sob, soft voice, sough, speak incoherently, splutter, sputter, squall, squawk, squeal, stage whisper, still small voice, susurrate, susurration, susurrus, swallow, take on, thunder, tirade, trumpet, twang, ululation, underbreath, undertone, wail, wail of woe, warble, whimper, whine, whisper, whispering, whistle, yap, yawp, yell, yelp, yowl

ROGET THESAURUS

Mutter

Stammering

VB stammer, stutter, hesitate, falter, hammer, balbutiate, balbucinate, haw, hum and haw, be unable to put two words together, mumble, mutter, maud, mauder, whisper, mince, lisp, jabber, gibber, sputter, splutter, muffle, mump, drawl, mouth, croak, speak thick, speak through the nose, snuffle, clip one's words, murder the language, murder the King's English, murder the Queen's English, mispronounce, missay.

Lamentation

N lament, lamentation, wail, complaint, plaint, murmur, mutter, grumble, groan, moan, whine, whimper, sob, sigh, suspiration, heaving, deep sigh, cry, scream, howl, outcry, wail of woe, ululation, frown, scowl, tear, weeping, flood of tears, fit of crying, lacrimation, lachrymation, melting mood, weeping and gnashing of teeth, plaintiveness, languishment, condolence, mourning, weeds, willow, cypress, crape, deep mourning, sackcloth and ashes, lachrymatory, knell, deep death song, dirge, coronach, nenia, requiem, elegy, epicedium, threne, monody, threnody, jeremiad, jeremiade, ullalulla, mourner, grumbler, Noobe, Heraclitus, lamenting, in mourning, in sackcloth and ashes, sorrowing, sorrowful, mournful, tearful, lachrymose, plaintive, plaintful, querulous, querimonious, in the melting mood, threnetic, in tears, with tears in one's eyes, with moistened eyes, with watery eyes, bathed in tears, dissolved in tears, like Niobe all tears, elegiac, epicedial, de profundis, les larmes aux yeux, Int, heigh-ho!, alas!, alack!, O dear!, ah me!, woe is me!, lackadaisy!, well a day!, lack a day!, alack a day!, wellaway!, alas the day!, O tempora O mores!, what a pity!, miserabile dictu!, O lud lud!, too true!, tears standing in the eyes, tears starting from the eyes, eyes suffused, eyes swimming, eyes brimming, eyes overflowing with tears, if you have tears prepare to shed them now, interdum lacrymae pondera vocis habent, strangled his language in his tears, tears such as angels weep.

VB lament, mourn, deplore, grieve, weep over, bewail, bemoan, condole with, fret, wear mourning, go into mourning, put on mourning, wear the willow, wear sackcloth and ashes, infandum renovare dolorem, give sorrow words, sigh, give a sigh, heave, fetch a sigh, waft a sigh from Indus to the pole, sigh 'like a furnace', wail, cry, weep, sob, greet, blubber, pipe, snivel, bibber, whimper, pule, pipe one's eye, drop tears, shed tears, drop a tear, shed a tear, melt into tears, burst into tears, fondre en larmes, cry oneself blind, cry one's eyes out, yammer, scream, mew, groan, moan, whine, roar, roar like a bull, bellow like a bull, cry out lustily, rend the air, frown, scowl, make a wry face, gnash one's teeth, wring one's hands, tear one's hair, beat one's breast, roll on the ground, burst with grief, complain, murmur, mutter, grumble, growl, clamor, make a fuss about, croak, grunt, maunder, deprecate, cry out before one is hurt, complain without cause.

Threat

VB threat, threaten, menace, snarl, growl, gnarl, mutter, bark, bully, defy, intimidate, keep in terrorem, hold up in terrorem, hold out in terrorem, shake the fist at, double the fist at, clinch the fist at, thunder, talk big, fulminate, use big words, bluster, look daggers, stare daggers.

Faintness

VB whisper, breathe, murmur, purl, hum, gurgle, ripple, babble, flow, tinkle, mutter, susurrate, steal on the ear, melt in the air, float on the air.