mutter
UK: ˈmʌtə | US: ˈmʌtər
v. to speak quietly and indistinctly, often in complaint or irritation
n. a low, indistinct utterance of complaint or dissatisfaction
The word "mutter" originates from the Proto-Germanic *muttrōną, imitative of the sound of low, grumbling speech. The root "mut" mimics the muffled, repetitive noise of discontented speech, while the suffix "-er" forms a verb indicating the action. Over time, it evolved in Middle English (as "moter") to specifically denote complaining or speaking indistinctly, retaining its onomatopoeic quality.
She began to mutter under her breath when the meeting ran late.
The old man would often mutter about the weather while staring out the window.
"This isn’t fair," he muttered, turning away.
The crowd’s mutter grew louder as the delay continued.
I heard a faint mutter of disapproval from the back of the room.