Okay, this has come up on numerous occasions while working on my novel series. Say you have a mature/respected character, like a high priestess, and she gives a small laugh. I’ve been wracking my brains as to what to call it. It’s not laughy enough to be called a full laugh. It’s a restrained laugh. (and don’t tell me to write Ondelle gave a restrained laugh. That’s lame; I want a verb. Ondelle _______ed.)
It’s not a giggle, she’s not a little girl.
It’s not a chuckle, she’s not a fat creepy uncle.
It’s not a titter, that’s too demeaning.
It’s not a snicker or a snigger.
And yes, I’ve gone through a thesaurus.
(My publisher Tod said, “How about a guffaw!” and I nearly lost my coffee through my nose. High Priestess Ondelle guffawed!)
OK, question — why does the H.P. have to have a “restrained” laugh — that wouldn’t be Real — and I think a H.P. would be unrestrained …
“restrained” laugh is like a ‘polite’ laugh — not really meaning it, but thinking it’s appropriate.
Just saying 🙂
Perhaps restrained isn’t the right description. It’s simply a small laugh and it’s a situational laugh. She doesn’t laugh the same way all the time.
Just like the rest of us, there are times when she bursts out laughing; laughs ironically over something tragic, yet humorous; or laughs in disbelief.
I want the word to describe her 1/2 laugh. The one where she smiles and laughs into her closed lips. She might restrain a full laugh if the full laugh would offend or embarrass the other person.
What about a laugh that escapes her lips? Like surprised laughter or maybe ‘venerable laughter’ 🙂 I just thought, high priestess… you know 😉
How about “gurgled”…it has a nice girly ring to it. Cannot imagine a man “gurgling” but a high priestess like Ondelle, definitely.
lol. perhaps a baby high priestess. 🙂
I may have to make up my own word!
How about describing the expression of her lips ? Its going to be wordy, but makes up for a giggle or chuckle 🙂
grinned,
smirked,
pulled a mona lisa!
mona lisa — yes!
mona lisa would definitely NOT chuckle or tittle or giggle.