- voice (n.)
- late 13c., "sound made by the human mouth," from O.Fr. voiz, from L. vocem (nom. vox) "voice, sound, utterance, cry, call, speech, sentence, language, word," related to vocare "to call," from PIE base *wek- "give vocal utterance, speak" (cf. Skt. vakti "speaks, says," vacas- "word;" Avestan vac- "speak, say;" Gk. aor. eipon "spoke, said," epos "word;" O.Prus. wackis "cry;" Ger. er-wähnen "to mention"). Replaced O.E. stefn. Meaning "ability in a singer" is first attested c.1600. Verb meaning "to express" (a feeling, opinion, etc.) first attested c.1600. The noun in this sense (in ref. to groups of people, etc., e.g. Voice of America) is recorded from late 14c.