ˈunderbreath, n., a., and adv.
[under-1 9 b and under-2.]
1. n. A low subdued tone; a whisper.
| 1844 Mrs. Browning Duchess May iii. x, I said in underbreath,—All our life is mixed with death. 1884 H. R. Haweis Musical Life 175 All the point was taken out of it [a story] because I had to hurry over it and end in a guilty kind of underbreath. |
b. Whispered rumour.
| 1880 Meredith Tragic Com. ii, She heard things related of Alvan by the underbreath. |
2. adj. Low-toned, whispered.
| 1853 H. Lushington Italian War (1859) 259 Rather extravagant in his liberalism, and given to underbreath confessions of conspiracy. 1874 Aylward in Manning Ess. Relig. & Lit. III. 106 The audience was greatly excited, and under-breath communications were made. |
3. adv. In an undertone or whisper.
| 1865 Swinburne Chastelard v. i. 177 Small broken oaths..And underbreath some praise of Ashtaroth Sighed laughingly. |