utterance
UK: ˈʌtərəns | US: ˈʌtərəns
n. the act of speaking or expressing something aloud
n. something that is said or expressed
n. (linguistics) a continuous unit of speech
The word "utterance" originates from the Old English verb ūtian, meaning "to put out" or "to speak," combined with the noun-forming suffix -ance, derived from Latin -antia. Over time, utter evolved to specifically denote vocal expression, while -ance solidified its role as a marker of abstract nouns. The fusion reflects the transition from physical action (putting forth) to verbal communication.
Her utterance of the poem moved the audience deeply.
The child’s first utterances were simple words like "mama."
Linguists study the structure of utterances in conversation.
His angry utterance echoed through the room.
The recording captured every utterance during the interview.