silent

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   With no sound at all; completely quiet.

   The house was silent except for the ticking clock.

2. 2
   adj

   Not speaking, or saying nothing when something is expected.

   The witness remained silent throughout the trial.

3. 3
   adj

   Understood or agreed without being said out loud.

   They gave their silent consent to the plan.

4. 4
   adj

   (of a letter) written but not pronounced.

   The 'h' at the beginning of 'honor' is silent.

Common collocations

• silent film Adjective + noun

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”).

Topics