▪ I. whimper, n.
(ˈhwɪmpə(r))
[f. next.]
1. a. A feeble, broken cry, as of a child about to burst into tears; a fretful cry expressive of complaint or grief.
| a 1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Whimper, a low, or small Cry. a 1734 North Exam. iii. vii. §63. (1740) 550 After a few Whimpers and a Wipe, he said..That..he knew..he was in the Wrong. 1839 Carlyle Ess., Sinking of Vengeur (1857) IV. 218 Some vague faint murmur or whimper of admission. 1874 Burnand My time xxvii. 256 A whimper in her voice expressive of utter helplessness. |
b. A similar cry of dogs, etc.
| 1810 Scott Lady of L. ii. xxiv, The loved caresses of the maid The dogs with crouch and whimper paid. 1852 R. S. Surtees Sponge's Sp. Tour lxviii. 383 The scent improved a little, and..a hound or two indulged in a whimper. 1859 Burton Centr. Africa in Jrnl. Geog. Soc. XXIX. 83 The hyena's whimper, and the fox's whining bark. 1906 Treves Highways Dorset xiii. 197 The voice of the preacher is apt to be interrupted by the whimper of circling seagulls. |
c. transf. Of inanimate things.
| 1895 W. Watson Hymn to Sea 6 Braying of arrogant brass, whimper of querulous reeds. 1897 ‘O. Rhoscomyl’ White Rose Arno xxii, The clank of capstan and the whimper of sheaves. |
2. not with a bang but a whimper: see bang n.1 2 a.
▪ II. whimper, v.
(ˈhwɪmpə(r))
Also 6 whymper, wimper, Sc. quhymper.
[Echoic. Cf. whimp.]
1. intr. To utter a feeble, whining, broken cry, as a child about to burst into tears; to make a low complaining sound.
| 1513 Douglas æneis ii. xii. 14 The ȝing childring, and frayit matrounis eik, Stude all on raw, with mony peteous screik..quhymperand woundir sair. 1530 Palsgr. 781/1 The poore boye whympereth a lytell, but he dare nat wepe for his lyfe. 1589 Nashe Martin Marprelate Wks. (Grosart) I. 184 He whimpered and put finger in the eye. 1644 Quarles Sheph. Oracles vii. (1646) 84 We..compose Strange rufull faces; whimper in the nose. 1727 Gay Begg. Op. i. xiii, The Boy, thus, when his Sparrow's flown..Whines, whimpers, sobs and cries. 1840 Dickens Old C. Shop iii, Get you away now you have said your lesson. You needn't whimper. 1912 L. A. Harker Mr. Wycherly's Wards xiv. 202 Baby began to whimper. |
b. fig. To complain pulingly; to ‘whine’: esp. for, after, † to something.
| 1549 Latimer 3rd Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 76 Was there euer yet preachers, but ther were gaynsaiars..yat whympered agaynste him? 1644 Quarles Sheph. Oracles vii. (1646) 76 Time was, Adelphus, that my wants would whine And whimper in poore rags as well as thine. a 1653 G. Daniel Idyll. iii. 43, I..whimper to the Teat, though Strong enough To digest meat. 1815 W. H. Ireland Scribbleomania 190 The great Grecian youth, Who whimper'd for more worlds to conquer. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth viii, Proudfute..began to cry for assistance..and almost in the same breath to whimper for mercy. 1842 Peel in Croker Papers 27 July (1884) II. 383 Farmers..were whimpering over advertisements offering fresh meat [etc.]. 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair lxvii, She is still whimpering after that gaby of a husband—dead..these fifteen years. 1894 Jessopp Rand. Roam. vi. 196 For ever whimpering for the days that are gone. |
c. trans. To utter or express in a whimper.
| 1784 Cowper Task iv. 429 But poverty, with most who whimper forth Their long complaints, is self-inflicted woe. 1819 Scott Ivanhoe xxviii, ‘You deal with me better than your word, noble knight,’ whimpered forth poor Wamba. 1820 Hogg Tales, Allan Gordon (1837) I. 314 The generous animal whined and whimpered her joy. 1891 Farrar Darkn. & Dawn lxv, He still kept whimpering, ‘Only to think that such an artist as I am must perish!’ |
2. intr. Of an animal, esp. a dog: To utter a feeble querulous cry.
| 1576 Turberv. Venerie xxxix. 108 He [sc. a hound] will streyne and lappyse, or whymper, or sometime call on plainely. 1641 W. Cartwright Siege i. iv, Whimpering at The Chamber door, like to the little Spaniel. 1825 J. Neal Bro. Jonathan I. 335 The dog stopped; whimpered; looked him in the face. 1898 M. Hewlett Forest Lovers xxx, The dogs whimpered and tugged at the leash; they doubtless knew that there was blood in her. |
3. Of running water or the wind: To make a continuous plaintive murmur. Also trans.
| 1795 H. Macneill Will & Jean i. xx, In a howm, wha's bonnie burnie Whimperin row'd its crystal flood. 1820 W. Irving Sketch Bk. II. 358 The little brook that whimpered by his school-house. 1821 Clare Vill. Minstrel II. 106 The brook mourns drippling o'er its pebbly bed, And whimpers soothingly a calm serene. 1891 Kipling Engl. Flag i. Verse 1919 I. 290 Winds of the World, give answer! They are whimpering to and fro—And what should they know of England who only England know? |
Hence ˈwhimpered ppl. a. (sense 1 c).
| 1892 G. Meredith Teaching of Nude i. Poet. Wks. (1912) 410 A Satyr..fetching whimpered tunes For words. |