— hushedly /hush"id lee, husht"lee/ , adv. — hushful , adj. — hushfully , adv.
/hush/ , interj.
1. (used as a command to be silent or quiet.)
v.i.
2. to become or be silent or quiet: They hushed as the judge walked in.
v.t.
3. to make silent; silence.
4. to suppress mention of; keep concealed (often fol. by up ): They hushed up the scandal.
5. to calm, quiet, or allay: to hush someone's fears.
n.
6. silence or quiet, esp. after noise.
7. Phonet. either of the sibilant sounds /sh/ and /zh/ .
adj.
8. Archaic. silent; quiet.
[ 1350-1400; appar. back formation from husht WHIST 2 (ME huissht ), the -t being taken for ptp. suffix ]
Syn. 6. peace, stillness, tranquillity.