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silence

 - 4 dictionary results

si⋅lence

  [sahy-luhns] noun, verb, -lenced, -lenc⋅ing, interjection
Use silence in a Sentence
–noun
1. absence of any sound or noise; stillness.
2. the state or fact of being silent; muteness.
3. absence or omission of mention, comment, or expressed concern: the conspicuous silence of our newspapers on local graft.
4. the state of being forgotten; oblivion: in the news again after years of silence.
5. concealment; secrecy.
–verb (used with object)
6. to put or bring to silence; still.
7. to put (doubts, fears, etc.) to rest; quiet.
8. Military. to still (enemy guns), as by more effective fire.
–interjection
9. be silent! “Silence!” the teacher shouted.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME (n.) < OF < L silentium. See silent, -ence

Synonyms:
6. hush, quell, muzzle, gag.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To silence
si·lence   (sī'ləns)   
n.  

  1. The condition or quality of being or keeping still and silent.

  2. The absence of sound; stillness.

  3. A period of time without speech or noise.

  4. Refusal or failure to speak out.

v.   tr. si·lenced, si·lenc·ing, si·lenc·es

  1. To make silent or bring to silence: silenced the crowd with a gesture.

  2. To curtail the expression of; suppress: silencing all criticism; silenced their opponents.


[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin silentium, from silēns, silent-, present participle of silēre, to be silent.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

silence  (n.)
c.1225, from O.Fr. silence "absence of sound," from L. silentium "a being silent," from silens, prp. of silere "be quiet or still," of unknown origin. Replaced O.E. swige. The verb (trans.) is attested from 1597, from the noun. Silencer "mechanism that stifles the sound of a motor or firearm" first recorded 1898.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: si·lence
Function: noun
1 : the state of keeping or being silent; especially : forbearance from speech or comment
2 : failure to make something known esp. in violation of a duty to do so silence> —see also estoppel by silence at ESTOPPEL 1
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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