▪ I. ˈtittering, vbl. n.1
[f. titter v.1 + -ing1.]
The action of titter v.1; giggling.
| 1657 Thornley tr. Longus' Daphnis & Chloe 129 The winking, nodding, laughing and tittering that was between them. 1759 Dilworth Pope 124 This story..was the cause of so much tittering, wherever her ladyship went. 1833 D. MacMillan in Hughes Mem. iii. (1882) 50 The everlasting tittering and smirking is loathsome. |
▪ II. ˈtittering, ppl. a.1
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
That titters; giggling, laughing with suppressed mirth; characterized by such laughter.
| 1748 Smollett Rod. Rand. lv, A whisper circulated at our expence..accompanied with many..tittering observations. 1802 M. Edgeworth Moral T. (1816) I. viii. 62 Young tittering ladies. 1879 Sala Paris herself again (1880) II. xxiii. 338 A group of tattling and tittering..sight-seers. |
Hence ˈtitteringly adv.
| 1831 Examiner 355/1 ‘The naughty man’, as he will be titteringly styled. 1892 G. Hake Mem. 80 Years xxvii. 86 They had to smile titteringly as well as to listen. |
▪ III. tittering, vbl. n.2 and ppl. a.2
see titter v.2