[syn: dumb, mute, silent]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Silent \Si"lent\, n.
That which is silent; a time of silence. [R.] "The silent of
the night." --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Silent \Si"lent\, a. [L. silens, -entis, p. pr. of silere to be
silent; akin to Goth. ana-silan.]
1. Free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly
quiet.
[1913 Webster]
How silent is this town! --Shak.
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2. 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.
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This new-created world, whereof in hell
Fame is not silent. --Milton.
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3. Keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed; as, the wind
is silent. --Parnell. Sir W. Raleigh.
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4. (Pron.) Not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent; as, e
is silent in "fable."
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5. Having no effect; not operating; inefficient. [R.]
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Cause . . . silent, virtueless, and dead. --Sir W.
Raleigh.
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Silent partner. See Dormant partner, under Dormant.
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Syn: Mute; taciturn; dumb; speechless; quiet; still. See
Mute, and Taciturn.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
silent
adj 1: marked by absence of sound; "a silent house"; "soundless
footsteps on the grass"; "the night was still" [syn:
silent, soundless, still]
2: failing to speak or communicate etc when expected to; "the
witness remained silent" [syn: mum, silent]
3: implied by or inferred from actions or statements; "gave
silent consent"; "a tacit agreement"; "the understood
provisos of a custody agreement" [syn: silent, tacit,
understood]
4: not made to sound; "the silent `h' at the beginning of
`honor'"; "in French certain letters are often unsounded"
[syn: silent, unsounded]
5: having a frequency below or above the range of human
audibility; "a silent dog whistle"
6: unable to speak because of hereditary deafness [syn: dumb,
mute, silent]