Lisp

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Lisped p. pr. & vb. n. Lisping. ] [ OE. lispen, lipsen, AS. wlisp stammering, lisping; akin to D. & OHG. lispen to lisp, G. lispeln, Sw. läspa, Dan. lespe. ] 1. To pronounce the sibilant letter s imperfectly; to give s and z the sound of th; -- a defect common among children. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To speak with imperfect articulation; to mispronounce, as a child learning to talk. [ 1913 Webster ]

As yet a child, nor yet a fool to fame,
I lisped in numbers, for the numbers came. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To speak hesitatingly with a low voice, as if afraid. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lest when my lisping, guilty tongue should halt. Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To pronounce with a lisp. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To utter with imperfect articulation; to express with words pronounced imperfectly or indistinctly, as a child speaks; hence, to express by the use of simple, childlike language. [ 1913 Webster ]

To speak unto them after their own capacity, and to lisp the words unto them according as the babes and children of that age might sound them again. Tyndale. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To speak with reserve or concealment; to utter timidly or confidentially; as, to lisp treason. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The habit or act of lisping. See Lisp, v. i., 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

I overheard her answer, with a very pretty lisp, “O! Strephon, you are a dangerous creature.” Tatler. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who lisps. [ 1913 Webster ]