خفت

Core meaning

To lower the voice to an undertone: to speak low, to hide what one says or under the effect of fear.

Uses

1. تُخَافِتْ, يَتَخَٰفَتُونَ → "to say in an undertone", "to talk in undertones" : the voice held at its lowest, alone or among several.

   • «وَلَا تُخَافِتْ بِهَا» — "nor say it in an undertone either" (17:110)
   • «وَهُمْ يَتَخَٰفَتُونَ» — "talking to one another in undertones" (68:23)

Evidence from the text

In 17:110, the undertone is one of the two limits of the Contact: neither the voice too loud, nor the low voice, but "between the two, a way" (17:110). Elsewhere, it is the voice of those who hide or fear: the owners of the garden set out talking in undertones of their plan to keep the destitute away from it (68:23-24); on the Day, the severed, livid, talk in undertones of how little time they stayed (20:103).

Distinctions

• جهر — to say aloud: the other limit of 17:110
• وسوس — to insinuate a suggestion into the ear, whereas خفت names only the low voice