SILENCE

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin silentium, from silent-, silens Date: 13th century forbearance from speech or noise ; muteness, absence of sound or noise ; stillness , absence of mention:, oblivion , obscurity , secrecy , II. transitive verb (~d; silencing) Date: 1598 to compel or reduce to ~ ; still , to restrain from expression ; suppress , to cause to cease hostile firing or criticism