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# murmuring

verb, -ing form of murmur (murmuring); noun (a murmuring, murmurings); adjective (murmuring)

«murmuring» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Saying something quietly and softly, so it is hard to hear. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/murmuring/#m1)
2. Making a low, soft, continuous sound, like a stream, bees or the wind in leaves. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/murmuring/#m2)
3. (noun) Murmurings are quiet complaints or rumours: «murmurings of unhappiness». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/murmuring/#m3)

### In the lessons

In stories, a murmuring river or murmuring voices create a calm or secret mood. In The Wind in the Willows, the river is always murmuring and chattering, and the reeds whisper. In the Bible, the Israelites' «murmuring» in the desert means grumbling against Moses. Phrases: «murmuring stream», «murmuring voices».

### Examples

- The murmuring stream sent me to sleep. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/murmuring/#x1)
- We could hear voices murmuring behind the door. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/murmuring/#x2)
- Bees were murmuring in the lavender. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/murmuring/#x3)
- There were murmurings in class when the trip was cancelled. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/murmuring/#x4)
- The river went on murmuring through the night. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/murmuring/#x5)
- Mum sat murmuring a lullaby to the baby. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/murmuring/#x6)
- The crowd was murmuring before the show began. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/murmuring/#x7)
- The faint sound of murmuring people was in the air. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/murmuring/#x8)

### Note

Spelling: murmur + ing (one r at the end, no doubling). See murmur. Similar: whispering, muttering (more grumbly), humming.

## In Jewish tradition

God says He hears the murmurings, which shows He notices every complaint, and the spies' bad report leads to a harsh decree.

**Interpretation.** Tradition counts the spies' event as a great failure of faith, which is why that generation wandered forty years.

### Examples

- 'I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel. (Torah EXO.16.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/murmuring/#x1)
- 'How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, that keep murmuring against Me? (Torah NUM.14.27, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/murmuring/#x2)
- I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they keep murmuring against Me. (Torah NUM.14.27, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/murmuring/#x3)

### Note

Spelling: murmur + ing (one r at the end, no doubling). See murmur. Similar: whispering, muttering (more grumbly), humming.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «murmuring» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/murmuring/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«murmuring» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/murmuring.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «murmuring» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/murmuring/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«murmuring» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/murmuring.html) on Mova free.