I. typically a snort or a strong h- sound followed by a contemptuously intoned m- sound or vowel ˈə the ˈə usu nasalized; often read as ˈhəm(p)f noun
( -s )
Etymology: imitative of a grunt
: a sound expressive of doubt or contempt
voiced many a skeptical humph — Time
— often used as an interjection
II. ˈhəm(p)f verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
intransitive verb
: to utter a humph
humphed and shagged upstairs — Feike Feikema
transitive verb
: to utter in a tone suggestive of a humph
might as well give one to the Queen of England, humphed a correspondent — Horace Sutton