Definition of hum

The word "hum" has a long and complex etymology that can be traced back to Old English. Its origins lie in the Old English word "hym," which meant "noise" or "sound." This word eventually evolved into Middle English "homen," which retain the "m" ending. The "m" ending in Middle English was characteristic of nouns that indicated a collective plural, meaning that the word referred to a group of people or things. In the case of "homen," the "m" ending indicated that it referred to a group of sounds or noises. The meaning of "homen" changed over time, eventually coming to mean "low, dull or indistinct sound" in Middle English. This new meaning prefigured its modern usage, as "hum" today is defined as a low, continuous sound, usually caused by some kind of vibration. The word "hum" has also evolved to have figurative meanings over time, such as the expression "to be on the humbug," which originated in the 19th century as a slang term for someone who was consoling or soothing, but evolved into a term for deceit or pretense. However, the root meaning of "hum" remains consistent - a sound or noise produced by some kind of vibration or movement.