Breathy

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈbɹɛθi/

Definitions

1. Having a sound quality marked by noticeable breath noise or a soft, airy tone
2. Describing a voice or sound that includes audible respiration, giving it a gentle, whisper-like effect
3. Produced with an emphasis on breathiness, resulting in a voice or sound that seems soft and filled with air

Etymology: "Breathy" is about as plain as English etymology gets: it is simply "breath" with the suffix "-y" attached, meaning "characterised by" or "having the quality of." The noun "breath" is ancient and native to English, descending from Old English "bræð," while the adjective-forming "-y" comes from Old English "-ig," which gave English countless everyday adjectives such as "windy," "sandy," and "healthy." The suffix has done this same job for over a thousand years, so "breathy" is a transparent formation: a voice that sounds like breath, a sigh made audible, a whisper with air in it. Its literal sense is almost a description of itself, built from the parts that sound it makes.

Synonyms: whispery, sibilant, husky, soft, airy

Antonyms: clear, loud, strong, firm, robust