- titter
- titter (v.) 1610s, "giggle in a suppressed or covert way," probably of imitative origin. Related: Tittered; tittering. The noun is first recorded 1728.
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
titter
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Titter — Tit ter, n. A restrained laugh. There was a titter of . . . delight on his countenance. Coleridge. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
titter — ► NOUN ▪ a short, half suppressed laugh. ► VERB ▪ give a titter. ORIGIN imitative … English terms dictionary
Titter — Tit ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Tittered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Tittering}.] [Probably of imitative origin.] To laugh with the tongue striking against the root of the upper teeth; to laugh with restraint, or without much noise; to giggle. [1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Titter — Tit ter, v. i. To seesaw. See {Teeter}. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
titter — [tit′ər] vi. [of Gmc echoic orig.] to laugh in a half suppressed way, suggestive of silliness, nervousness, etc.; giggle n. the act or an instance of tittering SYN. LAUGH titterer n … English World dictionary
titter — I UK [ˈtɪtə(r)] / US [ˈtɪtər] verb [intransitive] Word forms titter : present tense I/you/we/they titter he/she/it titters present participle tittering past tense tittered past participle tittered to laugh quietly, especially because you are… … English dictionary
titter — [[t]tɪ̱tə(r)[/t]] titters, tittering, tittered VERB If someone titters, they give a short nervous laugh, especially when they are embarrassed about something. Mention sex therapy and most people will titter in embarrassment. Syn: giggle, snigger… … English dictionary
titter — Cleveland Dialect List sooner, rather: I wad titter gan than stay , I was there titter than you … English dialects glossary
titter — intransitive verb Etymology: imitative Date: circa 1619 to laugh in a nervous, affected, or partly suppressed manner ; giggle, snicker • titter noun … New Collegiate Dictionary
titter — tit|ter [ˈtıtə US ər] v [Date: 1600 1700; Origin: From the sound] to laugh quietly in a high voice, especially because you are nervous ▪ At the word breast , some of the class tittered. >titter[i] n … Dictionary of contemporary English
