silent

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   having a frequency below or above the range of human audibility

   a silent dog whistle

2. 2
   adj

   not made to sound

   the silent `h' at the beginning of `honor'

3. 3
   adj

   failing to speak or communicate etc when expected to

   the witness remained silent

4. 4
   adj

   implied by or inferred from actions or statements

   gave silent consent

5. 5
   adj

   marked by absence of sound

   a silent house

6. 6
   adj

   Free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet.

   How silent is this town!

7. 7
   adj

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

   Ulysses, adds he, was the most eloquent and most silent of men.

8. 8
   adj

   Keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed.

   The winds were silent, all the waves asleep, / And heaven was trac'd upon the flattering deep

Etymology

From Latin silēns (“silent”), present participle of sileō (“be silent”), from Proto-Indo-European *seyl- (“still, windless, quiet, slow”). Related to Gothic 𐌰𐌽𐌰𐍃𐌹𐌻𐌰𐌽 (anasilan, “to cease, grow still, be silent”), Old English sālnes (“silence”).