silent
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
Latin silens, -entis, present participle of silere (“‘to be silent’”); akin to Gothic ana-silan.
[edit] Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈsaɪlənt/, SAMPA: /"saIl@nt/
- Audio (US)help, file
[edit] Adjective
silent (comparative silenter or more silent, superlative silentest or most silent)
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Positive |
Comparative |
Superlative |
- Free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet.
- Shakespeare:
- How silent is this town!
- 1825, Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy, The Works of Samuel Johnson, Talboys and Wheeler, page 52:
- What was formerly performed by fleets and armies, by invasions, sieges, and battles, has been of late accomplished by more silent methods.
- 1906, William Dean Howells and Sidney Dillon Ripley, Certain Delightful English Towns: With Glimpses of the Pleasant Country Between, Harper & Brothers, page 152:
- The voice of the auctioneer is slow and low [...]; after a pause, which seems no silenter than the rest of the transaction, he ceases to repeat the bids, and his fish, in the measure of a bushel or so, have gone for a matter of three shillings.
- Shakespeare:
- Not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn; not loquacious; not talkative.
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- Ulysses, adds he, was the most eloquent and most silent of men. Broome.
- This new-created world, whereof in hell Fame is not silent. John Milton.
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- Keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed; as, the wind is silent. Parnell. Sir W. Raleigh.
- (pronunciation) Not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent; as, "e is silent in fable."
- Having no effect; not operating; inefficient.
- Cause ... silent, virtueless, and dead. Sir Walter Raleigh.
- (technology) Without audio capability.
- The Magnavox Odyssey was a silent console.
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Synonyms
[edit] Translations
free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet
not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn
keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed
not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
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[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
silent (plural silents)
- (uncountable) That which is silent; a time of silence.
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- The silent of the night. Shakespeare
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- A silent movie
- 2007 August 12, Woody Allen, “The Man Who Asked Hard Questions”, New York Times:
- All kinds, silents and talkies.
- 2007 August 12, Woody Allen, “The Man Who Asked Hard Questions”, New York Times:
[edit] Translations
that which is silent
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[edit] External links
- silent in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- silent in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
- silent at OneLook® Dictionary Search