Droning
/ˈdroʊ.nɪŋ/noun
Producing a continuous low humming sound, or speaking in a monotonous tone.
Did you know?The noun and verb family behind English drone goes back to a Germanic word for the male bee, and the same root also gave us words for a heavy, monotonous hum that can feel eerily trance-inducing.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*dranô / *dranjaną
“male bee; to hum or make a low continuous sound”
Old English
OE
drān
“male bee, drone”
Middle English
ME
drone
“male bee; a low humming sound; a dull, idle person”
15th Century
English
dronen
“to make a low, continuous humming sound; to speak in a monotonous way”
Modern English
English
droning
“making or sounding like a continuous low hum; speaking monotonously”