susurrus
- A soft, whispering or murmuring sound, such as that of wind through leaves or quiet voices in a crowd.
In a sentence
- A susurrus of wind moved through the tall grass at the edge of the meadow, barely audible above the birdsong.
- From the back of the lecture hall came a susurrus of whispered commentary as the controversial slide appeared on screen.
Usage note. Susurrus is a literary and poetic word rarely used in everyday speech; its near-synonym 'susurration' is also acceptable and perhaps slightly more familiar to modern readers.
Where it comes from
English susurrus · entered English 19th c.
Borrowed directly from classical Latin 'susurrus,' meaning a murmur, whisper, or hum, itself likely of imitative (onomatopoeic) origin. The word entered English in the early 19th century and has remained largely literary and poetic in register.