silent en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- [ˈsaɪ̯lənt] ~ [ˈsaɪ̯ln̩t]
- (US) audio
- [ˈsaːlənt] ~ [ˈsaːln̩t] Southern US, Midland US, General South African
- /ˈsaːlənt/ Southern US, Midland US, General South African
- /ˈsaɪ̯lənt/
Etymology
From Latin silēns (“silent”), present participle of sileō (“be silent”), from Proto-Indo-European *seyl- (“still, windless, quiet, slow”). Related to Gothic 𐌰𐌽𐌰𐍃𐌹𐌻𐌰𐌽 (anasilan, “to cease, grow still, be silent”), Old English sālnes (“silence”).
Meanings
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Free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet.
The voice of the auctioneer is slow and low […]; after a pause, which seems no silenter than the rest of the transaction, he ceases to repeat the bids, and his fish, in the measure of a bushel or so, have gone for a matter of three shillings.
1906, William Dean Howells, Sidney Dillon Ripley, Certain Delightful English Towns: With Glimpses of the Pleasant Country Between, Harper & Brothers, page 152:What was formerly performed by fleets and armies, by invasions, sieges, and battles, has been of late accomplished by more silent methods.
1825, Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy, The Works of Samuel Johnson, Talboys and Wheeler, page 52How silent is this town!
c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
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Not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn; not loquacious; not talkative.
Tothero is silent before replying. His great strength is in these silences; he has the disciplinarian's trick of waiting a long moment while his words gather weight.
1960, John Updike, 'Rabbit, Run', page 38:Ulysses, adds he, was the most eloquent and most silent of men.
1725–1726, Homer, “(please specify the book or chapter of the Odyssey)”, in [William Broome, Elijah Fenton, Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC:This new-created world, whereof in hell / Fame is not silent.
1667, John Milton, “Book IV”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
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Keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed.
The winds were silent, all the waves asleep, / And heaven was trac'd upon the flattering deep
a. 1718, Thomas Parnell, Hesiod; or, the Rise of Woman:
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(qualifier:pronunciation) Not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent.
Silent letters can make some words difficult to spell.
The e is silent in fable.
The l in the English word salmon is silent.
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Having no effect; not operating; inefficient.
Cause […] silent, virtueless, and dead.
1614, Walter Ralegh [i.e., Walter Raleigh], The Historie of the World […], London: […] William Stansby for Walter Burre, […], →OCLC, (please specify |book=1 to 5):
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With the sound turned off; usually on silent or in silent mode.
My phone was on silent.
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Without audio capability.
The Magnavox Odyssey was a silent console.
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Hidden, unseen.
a silent voter; a silent partner
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Of an edit or change to a text, not explicitly acknowledged.
silent revisions; a silent emendation
[T]he use of both acknowledged and unacknowledged (silent) translations of non-English sources makes it difficult for users to determine if a certain term genuinely appeared in an English-language text.
2018, James Lambert, “Setting the Record Straight: An In-depth Examination of Hobson-Jobson”, in International Journal of Lexicography, volume 31, number 4, →DOI, page 496:
- Not implying significant modifications which would affect a peptide sequence.
- Undiagnosed or undetected because of an absence of symptoms.
- Of distilled spirit: having no flavour or odour.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| silenter | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| scilent | alternative, hypercorrect, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| silentest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more silent | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most silent | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Antonyms
nonsilent · loud · unsilent · noisy
Deriveds
silent auction · silent service · silentish · silent mode · silent as a grave · serosilent · silent commerce · Jay and Silent Bob · pseudosilent · silent butler · silent alarm · nonsilent · silent disco · fall silent · silent as the grave · silent key · silent barter · silent rave · unsilent · silent killer · immunosilent · silent fox · strong silent type · silent Sam · silent majority · silent-but-violent · silent number · phosphosilent · silent agitator · silent picture · silent film · silentness · silent movie · silent whistle · Silent Valley · ultrasilent · silent e · silently · silent migraine · silent listing · Silent Sam · silent partner · silent cop · silent mutation · radio silent · silent fox gesture · on silent · right to remain silent · Silent Grove · oversilent · silent vote · silent as the tomb · silent policeman · silent miscarriage · silent but deadly · silent fart · silent h · silent forest syndrome · be silent · silent treatment · silent cinema
Hypernyms
Relateds
obmutescent · silence · musicless · anechoic · silentiary · whist · nonvocal · echoless · inaudible · silentious · make silent · tongueless · voiceless · taciturn · clickless · mum · wordless · mumchance · asonant · speechless · songless · shtoom · tuneless
Synonyms
quiescent (not pronounced) · mute · dumb (not speaking; mute) · taciturn · servile (not pronounced) · concealed (hidden; unseen) · invisible · quiet (free from sound or noise) · occluded · speechless (not speaking; indisposed to talk) · silential · dormant (keeping at rest) · silent · soundless · noiseless · mute (not pronounced) · still
Translations (238)
hu szótlan (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · fa بیصدا (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · cmn 沉默 (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · nn tagal (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · hy հանգիստ (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · izh äänetöin (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · ota صوص (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · grc σιγηρός (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · pt silencioso (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · fa لال (without audio capability) · km ស្ងៀម (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · it tranquillo (keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed) · fa آرام (keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed) · tr sessiz (not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent) · nrf silencieux (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · ota خاموش (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · hu csendes (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · bg заглушен (in silent mode, on silent, with the sound turned off) · tl tahimik (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · kix tànglō (keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed) · zza béveng (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · bg тих (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · es silencioso (undiagnosed or undetected because of an absence of symptoms) · yue 安靜 /安静 (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · es callar (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · pl cichy (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · bg ням (without audio capability) · ka ჩუმი (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · be маўча́ць (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · ru молчали́вый (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · tr sakin (hidden, unseen) · la silens (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · ar صَامِت (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · ky унчукпоо (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · eo kvieta (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · fa لال (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · hak 恬 (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · sh tih (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · bg безмълвен (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · grc ἤρεμος (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · vo stilik (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · nan-hbl 恬恬 (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · fr silencieux (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · fi hiljainen (not implying significant modifications which would affect a peptide sequence) · osx swigon (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · es silencioso (not implying significant modifications which would affect a peptide sequence) · it muto (without audio capability) · nan-hbl 恬靜 /恬静 (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · tr sessiz (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · cs mlčet (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · da tyst (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · vi yên lặng (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · yue 沉默 (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · ro liniștit (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · it silenzioso (without audio capability) · it muto (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · de leise (in silent mode, on silent, with the sound turned off) · chr ᎡᏝᏪᎢ (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · cs tichý (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · ru беззву́чный (in silent mode, on silent, with the sound turned off) · bg безсимптомен (undiagnosed or undetected because of an absence of symptoms) · arz ساكتة (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · ro tăcut (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · hak 安靜 /安静 (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · hu hallgatag (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · ltg trāps (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · yue 恬靜 /恬静 (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · fi äänetön (having no effect; not operating; inefficient) · lo ນິ້ງ (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · nrf silencieux (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · fa ناکار (having no effect; not operating; inefficient) · fi äänettömälle (in silent mode, on silent, with the sound turned off) · bn খামোশ (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · de still (keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed) · zza bévengey (not implying significant modifications which would affect a peptide sequence) · fr silencieux (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · fi hiljainen (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · pt silencioso (undiagnosed or undetected because of an absence of symptoms) · th สงัด (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · qu upalla (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · uk ти́хий (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · hu néma (not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent) · ab аҭынч (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · nl zwijgzaam (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · hak 恬恬 (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · alt унчукпаар (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · pt quieto (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · cmn 恬靜 /恬静 (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · fi hiljainen (without audio capability) · ru ти́хий (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · lv kluss (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · ca callar (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · ar سَاكِت (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · krc тынч (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · sk mlčať (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · th เงียบ (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · uk мовча́ти (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · nl zwijgend (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · tr dilsiz (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · no stum (not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent) · ast silenciosu (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · ru немо́й (not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent) · la tacitus (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · grc ἀκέων (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · sh tih (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · fi hiljainen (hidden, unseen) · ang swīgian (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · tr lal (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · nl stil (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · is hljóður (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · eo muta (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · hy խաղաղ (keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed) · de stumm (in silent mode, on silent, with the sound turned off) · sh тих (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · yue 緘默 /缄默 (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · es silente (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · fi vaitelias (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · es silencioso (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · fa ساکت (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · el αθόρυβος (not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent) · hy հանդարտ (keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed) · ga i do thost (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · de stumm (not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent) · hu zajtalan (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · hy խաղաղ (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · it silenzioso (not implying significant modifications which would affect a peptide sequence) · ja 無言の (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · sh múčati (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · sl molčati (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · ltg kluss (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · fr se taire (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · pdt stell (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · fr silencieux (undiagnosed or undetected because of an absence of symptoms) · ru непроизноси́мый (not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent) · pl bezdźwięczny (in silent mode, on silent, with the sound turned off) · hu csendes (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · hi चुप (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · nan-hbl 安靜 /安静 (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · ja 静かな (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · el αθόρυβος (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · be ці́хі (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · lo ສງັດ (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · pt silencioso (not implying significant modifications which would affect a peptide sequence) · hi चुप (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · oc silenciós (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · de schweigen (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · fi tyyni (keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed) · fa آرام (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · nan-hbl 恬 (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · it silenzioso (undiagnosed or undetected because of an absence of symptoms) · it silenzioso (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · yue 靜 /静 (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · ka ჩუმი (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · pl bezszelestny (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · tr sakin (keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed) · sh му́чати (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · mt sieket (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · cy tewi (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · eo silenta (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · sl tih (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · mi karangatā (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · it silenzioso (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · yi שטום (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · hi ख़ामोश (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · hak 恬靜 /恬静 (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · fi äänetön (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · fa خاموش (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · mk ќу́ти (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · vi câm lặng (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · my တိတ် (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · fi piilevä (undiagnosed or undetected because of an absence of symptoms) · ang swīġe (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · cmn 緘默 /缄默 (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · ga i do thost (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · zza lal (diq) (without audio capability) · bg непроизносим (not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent) · fi äänettömällä (in silent mode, on silent, with the sound turned off) · hu hangtalan (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · ja 無音の (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · mi mōhū (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · mk молчи (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · pt mudo (without audio capability) · tr etkisiz (having no effect; not operating; inefficient) · ca silenciós (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · fa گنگ (without audio capability) · ro silențios (not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent) · ja 黙っている (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · th นิ่ง (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · pt silencioso (not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent) · pt silencioso (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · sv tyst (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · fa خاموش (not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent) · bg безшумен (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · fa خاموش (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · mi mōhū (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · mi whakakeke (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · fi tehoton (having no effect; not operating; inefficient) · yi שטום (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · fi hiljainen (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · fr muet (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · hy հանդարտ (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · hy լուռ (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · km ស្ងាត់ (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · la tranquilis (keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed) · zza sukut (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · ga tostach (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · vi lặng lẽ (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · fi hiljainen (not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent) · mk тих (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · ota خاموش (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · ko 조용하다 (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · sk tichý (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · se jaskat (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · it silente (keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed) · ru молча́ть (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · arz ساكت (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · sv stum (not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent) · sv tystlåten (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · zza isız (not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent) · izh hiljain (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · mn номхон (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · cmn 安靜 /安静 (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · ga tostach (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · tr sessiz (hidden, unseen) · de schweigsam (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · dsb mjelcaś (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · fi äänetön (in silent mode, on silent, with the sound turned off) · fr silencieux (not implying significant modifications which would affect a peptide sequence) · de still (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · lo ມິດ (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · ru безмо́лвный (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · fr muet (not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent) · pl bezdźwięczny (not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent) · se hiljit (keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed) · nb lydløs (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · mt siekta (free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet) · la tacitus (not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn) · de lautlos (in silent mode, on silent, with the sound turned off)