SILENCE


Meaning of SILENCE in English

I. ˈsī-lən(t)s noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin silentium, from silent-, silens

Date: 13th century

1. : forbearance from speech or noise : muteness — often used interjectionally

2. : absence of sound or noise : stillness

in the silence of the night

3. : absence of mention:

a. : oblivion , obscurity

b. : secrecy

weapons research was conducted in silence

II. transitive verb

( si·lenced ; si·lenc·ing )

Date: 1598

1. : to compel or reduce to silence : still

silenced the crowd

2. : to restrain from expression : suppress

3. : to cause to cease hostile firing or criticism

silence the opposition

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.