English Dictionary |
VOICELESS
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Dictionary entry overview: What does voiceless mean?
• VOICELESS (adjective)
The adjective VOICELESS has 4 senses:
1. produced without vibration of the vocal cords
2. deprived of the rights of citizenship especially the right to vote
4. being without sound through injury or illness and thus incapable of all but whispered speech
Familiarity information: VOICELESS used as an adjective is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Produced without vibration of the vocal cords
Synonyms:
hard; surd; unvoiced; voiceless
Context example:
unvoiced consonants such as 'p' and 'k' and 's'
Similar:
whispered (spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords)
Derivation:
voicelessness (speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Deprived of the rights of citizenship especially the right to vote
Synonyms:
disenfranchised; disfranchised; voiceless; voteless
Context example:
disenfrenchised masses took to the streets
Derivation:
voicelessness (having no voice in the management or control of affairs)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Uttered without voice
Synonyms:
breathed; voiceless
Context example:
voiceless whispers
Similar:
inaudible; unhearable (impossible to hear; imperceptible by the ear)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Being without sound through injury or illness and thus incapable of all but whispered speech
Synonyms:
aphonic; voiceless
Similar:
inarticulate; unarticulate (without or deprived of the use of speech or words)
Derivation:
voicelessness (a disorder of the vocal organs that results in the loss of voice)
Context examples
From the tortures of my own heart, I turned to contemplate the deep and voiceless grief of my Elizabeth.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
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