Lexicon: whim – whist

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whim, n. [A transference from whim-wham, the chief of a group of words, flim-flam, jim-jam, trim-tram which all are applied to trivial or frivolous things. The history is unclear, but the ON hvimsa, to wander with eyes as with the fugitive look of a frightened or silly person, may be related.]

  1. Criterion of the familiar; way of knowing.
  2. Impulsive, capricious choice; fancy; desire.

whimper (-ed, -s), n. [Echoic of whimp v.] (webplay: child, wining).

  1. Cry pitifully, as a child.
  2. Mourn; pound; ache; yearn; desire.
  3. Crow; assert oneself.

whine (whining), v. [OE hwinan < ON hvina to whiz, whistle in the air.] (webplay: came).

Express murmurs by a plaintive, usually shrill cry; pine; yearn; whimper.

whip ('s), n. [Partly from whip, v. and partly from (M)LG wippe (wip) quick movement, moment of time, life for raising a well-bucket or hoisting cargo, lever.] (webplay: away, boy, child, flies, horses, instant, lash, small, suddenly, turning).

  1. Flash of sight; sudden brightness; quick movement; leap.
  2. Quick action; sudden flash; potential danger.
  3. Ray; stream of light.
  4. Instrument for flogging, beating; [fig.] shame which breaks the heart.

whippowil, n. [unknown etymology.]

  1. Bird that sings only in the summer like an oriole.
  2. [Fig.] poet.
  3. One capable of many tones, accents, and ranges.

whirl (-s), v. [ON hvirfla, to turn about, whirl; related to ON hvirfill circle, ring, esp. crown of the head, top, summit, pole of the heavens.]

Spiral; move in swift circles; swift rotary movement.

whirr, n. [Da. hvirre < Sw. dial. hvirra.]

Hum; gurgle; babble; ripple; vibration; gentle rush; low continuous sound; [fig.] quickening after a thaw.

whisper (- ing), n. [see whisper, v.] (webplay: caution, came, together).

  1. Secret; exchange of love; insinuation; hint; innuendo.
  2. Conversation quiet as death, near silence, suggestions of great meaning.

whisper (-ed, -ing), v. [OE hwisprian < Early Flem. wisperen < Sw. viska, to whisper.] (webplay: came).

  1. Deliver secret messages; convey intimate information.
  2. Exchange hushed, sibilant tones at funerals or deaths.

whist, conj. [A natural utterance enjoing silence, grouped with other words such as hist, hush, ist, st.]