What is a murmur? This is a word of Slavic origin, which can be used both in literary and in book speech. Despite these circumstances, its interpretation can sometimes be difficult. This is due to the fact that it has shades of interpretation.
Let's turn to the dictionary
There the meaning of the word "murmur" is presented in two versions.
The first of them speaks of discontent, protest, which, however, is not expressed quite openly. Example: "When the people began to rise in indignant grumble, the authorities had to hurry to send out their village instructors who explained that no one was going to relocate people to the North Caucasus."
The second describes just a slurred, dull noise that does not imply protest. Example: “The shore was abruptly cut to the sea, and below there was a continuous murmur of splashing dark blue waves.”
Next, we consider words that are close to the studied, which will help to understand its meaning.
Synonyms
Among them you can find such as:
- murmuring;
- rumble;
- homon;
- sound;
- noise;
- discontent;
- unrest;
- a complaint;
- disorder;
- indignation;
- grunt;
- complaint;
- fermentation.
To better understand what grumble is, consider the origin of this token.
Etymology
The word originates in the Proto-Slavic language, where a form such as ropot is found. From her, among other things, came:
- Old Russian "ropat", "rpat";
- Old Slavonic rpatati;
- Russians “grumble”, “grumble”, where the letter “u” appeared through the Church Slavonic language;
- Ukrainian "murmurs", which has such meanings as "murmur", "speak at once" (when it comes to the crowd), "mumble", as well as "murmur", which means "speak incessantly";
- Bulgarian "grumble";
- Slovenian ropòt, which translates as “roar”, “hum” and ropotát - “clap”, “rumble”;
- Czech reptat, the meaning of which is “murmur”, “grumble”;
- Slovak reptať - the same as in Czech;
- Polish reptać - the same as in the two previous cases;
- Upper Luzhsky ropot, meaning “noise,” ropotac, which is interpreted as “cracking,” “rattling, and also ropać -“ clicking “;
- Lower Luzhskie ropot and ropotaś - similarly to Upper Luzhskie.
Linguists associate “murmur” with alternating vowels “a” and “o” in the first syllable with Slovak rapotať, which means “clap” and rapot - “knock”, “clap”. And also with Moravian rapěť in the meanings “sound”, “clap”. The pre-Slavic form of ropot is onomatopoeic, similar to the noun “babble” and the verb “babble”.
In conclusion, it should be noted that in the Holy Scriptures grumbling is considered as a sin committed against God, as a manifestation of pride, passion and despondency. This is a kind of blasphemy being built on God, ingratitude manifested to the Creator. The opposite of this manifestation is such a virtue as patience.