4

I'm trying to write a sentence like

Nobody goes near the caves because of monster noises.

"Nobody goes near the caves because of monster sightings" doesn't work because people have not seen the monsters, but only heard them. Is there a more eloquent word for this?

Thanks in advance.

Improve this question
8
  • 2
    I don't give this as an answer because I think these possibilities are not quite what you need. Monster sounds, monster hearings, monster noises, monster rumours - all give some of the sense of what you ask for but none seems a perfect reflection of monster sightings to me. Perhaps others will come up with better suggestions.
    – Anton
    Commented Apr 24, 2023 at 9:33
  • @Anton IMO, a totally valid and (possibly!?) helpful use of a 'comment'.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Commented Apr 24, 2023 at 9:39
  • The analogue of the common transitive verbo-nominal multi word verb 'catch sight of', 'catch sound of', is used though much more rarely. But it's obviously neither a single orthographic word nor a noun/nominal. But as a workaround: << Nobody goes near the caves because of the reports that earlier travellers caught sound of monstrous noises. >>? I doubt that an analogue of 'sighting' exists for an audible 'clocking'.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Commented Apr 24, 2023 at 9:46
  • 1
    @EdwinAshworth Kind of you. Thanks. It is an interesting and challenging question in its reasonable search for a parallel.
    – Anton
    Commented Apr 24, 2023 at 9:48
  • 2
    Maybe grumbling(s) in some way.
    – HippoSawrUs
    Commented Apr 25, 2023 at 15:44

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
0

It seems like in English there is no word specifically trying to pinpoint this after some research, as even terms like 'overhearing' are not exactly perfect in this context. I would opt for a more general word similar to 'noise' because it conveys the sound.

Answers:

1 word:

Nobody goes near the caves because of monster commotion.

Nobody goes near the caves because of monster clamor.

Specific but not 1 word:

Nobody goes near the caves because of earwitness disclosures of monsters.

Improve this answer
4
  • 1
    I was surprised to find "earwitness" in the dictionary. It sounds like a made up portmanteau.
    – Barmar
    Commented Apr 25, 2023 at 20:44
  • @Barmar Well, it is existent, and in this context it downs work, I guess. 'Earwitness disclosures of monsters' is really just 'leaks of information that people heard monsters'.
    – Hudson
    Commented Apr 25, 2023 at 21:56
  • @Barmar Well, eyewitness is a portmanteau word and at some point somebody had to make it up.
    – Casey
    Commented Sep 21, 2023 at 22:49
  • @Casey I meant made up by this poster, rather than a word they learned from seeing or hearing it used previously.
    – Barmar
    Commented Sep 21, 2023 at 22:53

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.