I. ˈsī-lənt adjective
Etymology: Middle English sylent, from Latin silent-, silens, from present participle of silēre to be silent; akin to Gothic ana silan to cease, grow calm
Date: 15th century
1.
a. : making no utterance : mute , speechless
b. : indisposed to speak : not loquacious
2. : free from sound or noise : still
3. : performed or borne without utterance : unspoken
silent prayer
silent grief
4.
a. : making no mention
history is silent about this person
b. : not widely or generally known or appreciated
the silent pressures on a person in public office
c. : making no protest or outcry
the silent majority
5. : unpronounced
the silent b in doubt
6. : not exhibiting the usual signs or symptoms of presence
a silent infection
7.
a. : made without spoken dialogue
silent movies
b. : of or relating to silent movies
• si·lent·ly adverb
• si·lent·ness noun
Synonyms:
silent , taciturn , reticent , reserved , secretive mean showing restraint in speaking. silent implies a habit of saying no more than is needed
the strong, silent type
taciturn implies a temperamental disinclination to speech and usually connotes unsociability
taciturn villagers
reticent implies a reluctance to speak out or at length, especially about one's own affairs
was reticent about his plans
reserved implies reticence and suggests the restraining influence of caution or formality in checking easy informal conversational exchange
greetings were brief, formal, and reserved
secretive , too, implies reticence but usually carries a suggestion of deviousness and lack of frankness or of an often ostentatious will to conceal
the secretive research and development division
II. noun
Date: 1929
: a motion picture made without spoken dialogue — usually used in plural