Origin and history of voice

late 13c., "the sound made by the vocal organs of the human mouth," from Old French voiz "voice, speech; word, saying, rumor, report" (Modern French voix), from Latin vocem (nominative vox) "voice, sound, utterance, cry, call, speech, sentence, language, word" (source also of Italian voce, Spanish voz), which is related to vocare "to call" (from PIE root *wekw- "to speak").

From c. 1300 as "particular tone, character, or quality of voice." By early 14c. in reference to an individual voice. The meaning "ability in a singer" is attested from c. 1600.

In Middle English also of a ghost, God, a centaur, a frog, etc. As the medium of expression of inanimate objects (wind, waters, the thunder) by early 14c., also abstractions (the law, fame, honor, truth) and figuratively of blood, the heart. By 1865 of lobsters.

In grammar, "form of a verb or inflections which show relation of subject to action," late 14c.

The meaning "expression of feeling, etc." is from late 14c., of God, etc.; common voice then was "the voice of the people." As "right or privilege of speaking or voting in a legislative assembly," by mid-15c. The meaning "opinion or choice expressed" is by 1855. As "one who speaks, a speaker" by 1590s; earlier figurative, "one who expresses something, an advocate" (late 14c.). In the Wycliffite Sermons (c. 1425) John the Baptist is "vois of Goddis werd." Hence Voice of America, etc.

The meaning "invisible spirit or force that directs or suggests," (especially in the context of insanity, as in hear voices (in one's head), is from 1911.

It displaced Old English stefn "voice," from Proto-Germanic *stemno, from PIE *stomen- (see stoma).

mid-15c., voicen, "be commonly said," from voice (n.). From c. 1600 as "to express, give utterance to" (feeling, opinion, etc.); from 1867 as "utter (a letter-sound) with the vocal cords." Related: Voiced; voicing.