silent

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Related terms 1.3.2 Synonyms 1.3.3 Translations 1.4 Noun 1.4.1 Translations 1.5 External links 1.6 Anagrams

[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)

1. 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.

2. Not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn; not loquacious; not talkative.

   • 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.

3. Keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed; as, the wind is silent. Parnell. Sir W. Raleigh.
4. (pronunciation) Not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent; as, "e is silent in fable."
5. Having no effect; not operating; inefficient.
   • Cause ... silent, virtueless, and dead. Sir Walter Raleigh.
6. (technology) Without audio capability.

   The Magnavox Odyssey was a silent console.

[edit] Related terms

• silent partner
• dormant partner

[edit] Synonyms

• mute
• taciturn
• dumb
• speechless
• quiet
• still

[edit] Translations

[edit] Noun

silent (plural silents)

1. (uncountable) That which is silent; a time of silence.

   • The silent of the night. Shakespeare

2. A silent movie
   • 2007 August 12, Woody Allen, “The Man Who Asked Hard Questions”, New York Times:

     All kinds, silents and talkies.

[edit] Translations

[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

[edit] Anagrams

• Alphagram: eilnst
• enlist
• inlets
• leints
• listen
• tinsel