SILENTER

SILENT

Si"lent, a. Etym: [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. How silent is this town! Shak.

2. Not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn; not loquacious; not talkative. Ulysses, adds he, was the most eloquent and most silent of men. Broome. This new-created world, whereof in hell Fame is not silent. Milton.

3. Keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed; as, the wind is silent. Parnell. Sir W. Raleigh.

4. (Pron.)

Definition: Not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent; as, e is silent in "fable."

5. Having no effect; not operating; inefficient. [R.] Cause . . . silent, virtueless, and dead. Sir W. Raleigh. Silent partner. See Dormant partner, under Dormant.

Syn.

– Mute; taciturn; dumb; speechless; quiet; still. See Mute, and Taciturn.

Si"lent, n.

Definition: That which is silent; a time of silence. [R.] "The silent of the night." Shak.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition