Not voiced or expressed; unspoken: a silent curse; silent consent.
Inactive; quiescent: a silent volcano.
Linguistics Having no phonetic value; unpronounced: the silent b in subtle.
Having no spoken dialogue and usually no soundtrack. Used of a film.
Producing no detectable signs or symptoms: a silent heart attack.
n.
A silent movie.
[Latin silēns, silent-, present participle of silēre, to be silent.]
si'lent·ly adv., si'lent·ness n.
Synonyms: These adjectives describe people who are sparing with speech. Silent often implies a habitual disinclination to speak or to speak out: "The coroner was a very silent man" (Mary Roberts Rinehart).
The term may also mean refraining from speech, as out of fear or confusion: "The person in custody must, prior to interrogation, be clearly informed that he has the right to remain silent" (Earl Warren).
Reticent suggests a reluctance to share one's thoughts and feelings: "She had been shy and reticent with me, and now . . . she was telling me aloud the secrets of her inmost heart" (W.H. Hudson).
Reserved suggests aloofness and reticence: "a reserved man, whose inner life was intense and sufficient to him" (Arnold Bennett).
Taciturn implies unsociableness and a tendency to speak only when it is absolutely necessary: "At the Council board he was taciturn; and in the House of Lords he never opened his lips" (Thomas Macaulay).
Laconic denotes terseness or conciseness in expression, but when applied to people it often implies an unwillingness to use words: "Mountain dwellers and mountain lovers are a laconic tribe. They know the futility of words" (Edna Ferber).
Secretive implies a lack of openness about or even concealment of matters that could in all conscience be discussed: was secretive about my vacation plans. Uncommunicative suggests a disposition to withhold opinions, feelings, or knowledge from others: an uncommunicative witness. Tightlipped strongly implies a steadfast unwillingness to divulge information being sought: remained tightlipped when asked about her personal life. See Also Synonyms at still1.
1565, from L. silentem, from silere, see silent. Phrase strong, silent (type) is attested from 1905. Silent majority in the political sense of "mass of people whose moderate views are not publicly expressed and thus overlooked" is first attested 1955 in a British context and was used by John F. Kennedy but is most associated in U.S. with the rhetoric of the Nixon administration (1969-74).
"It is time for America's silent majority to stand up for its rights, and let us remember the American majority includes every minority. America's silent majority is bewildered by irrational protest." [Spiro T. Agnew, May 9, 1969]
In Victorian use, the phrase meant "the dead" (1874).
Mute\, a. [L. mutus; cf. Gr. ? to shut, Skr. m?ta bound, m?ka dumb: cf. OE. muet, fr. F. muet, a dim. of OF. mu, L. mutus.]1. Not speaking; uttering no sound; silent. All the heavenly choir stood mute, And silence was in heaven. --Milton. Note: In law a prisoner is said to stand mute, when, upon being arranged, he makes no answer, or does not plead directly, or will not put himself on trial. 2. Incapable of speaking; dumb. --Dryden. 3. Not uttered; unpronounced; silent; also, produced by complete closure of the mouth organs which interrupt the passage of breath; -- said of certain letters. See 5th Mute, 2. 4. Not giving a ringing sound when struck; -- said of a metal. Mute swan (Zo["o]l.), a European wild white swan (Cygnus gibbus), which produces no loud notes. Syn: Silent; dumb; speechless. Usage: Mute, Silent, Dumb. One is silent who does not speak; one is dumb who can not, for want of the proper organs; as, a dumb beast, etc.; and hence, figuratively, we speak of a person as struck dumb with astonishment, etc. One is mute who is held back from speaking by some special cause; as, he was mute through fear; mute astonishment, etc. Such is the case with most of those who never speak from childhood; they are not ordinarily dumb, but mute because they are deaf, and therefore never learn to talk; and hence their more appropriate name is deaf-mutes. They spake not a word; But, like dumb statues, or breathing stones, Gazed each on other. --Shak. All sat mute, Pondering the danger with deep thoughts. --Milton.
Part"ner\, n. [For parcener, influenced by part.]1. One who has a part in anything with an other; a partaker; an associate; a sharer. "Partner of his fortune." --Shak. Hence: (a) A husband or a wife. (b) Either one of a couple who dance together. (c) One who shares as a member of a partnership in the management, or in the gains and losses, of a business. My other self, the partner of my life. --Milton. 2. (Law) An associate in any business or occupation; a member of a partnership. See Partnership. 3. pl. (Naut.) A framework of heavy timber surrounding an opening in a deck, to strengthen it for the support of a mast, pump, capstan, or the like. Dormant, or Silent, partner. See under Dormant, a. Syn: Associate; colleague; coadjutor; confederate; partaker; participator; companion; comrade; mate.
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