silencen.int.
/ˈsʌɪləns/, /ˈsʌɪln̩s/, U.S. /ˈsaɪləns/ A. n.† 4. A small hammer used to command silence or order. Obsolete.† 6. Distilling. Lack of flavour in distilled spirit. Cf. silent adj. 5d. Obsolete. rare.
1.
a. The fact, state, or habit of abstaining or refraining from speaking (sometimes with reference to a particular matter) or other utterance; the fact of keeping silent; an act or instance of this.radio silence, wireless silence: see the first element.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > [noun]
stillnessc1050
silencea1225
seld-speech?c1225
taciturnityc1450
retreata1533
mum1555
silentness1573
reticence1603
reticencya1617
reservation1619
parciloquy1656
reserve1659
costiveness1792
incommunicativeness1815
mutism1824
incommunicableness1835
ineloquence1843
incommunicability1855
unspeaking1860
mumchanceness1910
mumchanciness1920
a1225 ( Rule St. Benet (Winteney) (1888) vi. 29 heading Her hit specð embe swiȝe, þat is, embe silence [OE Corpus Cambr. Be swigan].
c1350 Apocalypse St. John: A Version (Harl. 874) (1961) 59 (MED) As þe aungel opened þe seuenþe claspe, silence is made in heuene.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Deeds xix. 33 Forsothe Alisaundre, silence axid with the hond, wolde ȝelde resoun to the peple.
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Melibeus (Hengwrt) (2003) §121 Ye han ful ofte assayed my grete silence..and eek how wel þt I kan hiden & hele thynges.
1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) ii. iii. 38 And oftetymes they selle as welle theyr scilence, as theyr vtterance.
c1500 (?a1475) Assembly of Gods (1896) l. 44 Then was there made a proclamasion, In Plutoys name commaundyd silence.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Job xxix. 21 Vnto me men gaue eare,..& with sylence they taried for my councell.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 ii. ii. 154 No worde to your master that I am yet come to towne; theres for your silence . View more context for this quotation
a1668 W. Davenant News from Plimouth iv, in Wks. (1673) 31/2 Silence becomes Men best, when Women talk.
1720 J. Ozell et al. tr. R. A. de Vertot Hist. Revol. Rom. Republic I. iii. 157 The People intimidated, kept in a profound Silence for some Time.
1782 W. Cowper Retirement in Poems 279 The tongue..Shall own itself a stamm'rer in that cause, Or plead its silence as its best applause.
1847 R. W. Emerson Poems 154 Ye taught my lips a single speech, And a thousand silences.
1874 F. W. Farrar Silence & Voices of God ii. 29 What is called the silence of ignorance may sometimes be the silence of repudiation, sometimes even the reticence of scorn.
1944 G. Heyer Friday's Child (1960) xxv. 324 He had been obliged to tramp three miles down miry lanes beside a lady who maintained a stony silence throughout the trudge.
2018 M. Hanna-Attisha What Eyes don't See viii. 103 Elliott was silent, the kind of silence that meant his heart was breaking.
b. The renunciation of speech as chosen or vowed by the members of certain religious or monastic orders; a period during which the members of a community or retreat renounce speech. Frequently in the rule of silence.Recorded earliest as a modifier in silence time (see Compounds 1a).Cf. vow of silence n. at Phrases 7.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > monasticism > [noun] > renunciation of speech
the rule of silencea1387
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 19 Speke wolde he nevere, as it is i-write in þe questiouns þat he wroot in his scilence tyme [L. silendo scripsit].
1435 in J. F. South & D. Power Memorials Craft of Surg. (1886) App. 318 (MED) The seid felowschip..in her complayntis & seyngis honestli to be mesurable and to scielence mekeli to obeie.
1627 R. S. tr. V. Cepari Life Gonzaga ii. xiv. 256 He was neuer discouered to vtter so much as one word to any one, were he domesticall or stranger. So obseruant was he of the rule of silence.
1884 W. E. Addis & T. Arnold Catholic Dict. 804/1 Probably the most trying part of all the discipline is the silence, no monk being allowed to speak to his brother on any occasion.
1957 P. L. Fermor Time to keep Silence 67 There is a special dispensation from the rule of silence for the monks who deal with the abbey livestock when they are actually addressing their dumb charges.
1978 Oxf. Diocesan Mag. Dec. 17/1 Then there was the two days' retreat... At no time..was the sense of fellowship more apparent than during the silence.
2009 P. Gray & L. Ridout Rough Guide Thailand 333 Disciplined Vipassana courses (with a rule of silence, no food after noon and so on), taught by Thai monks with translators.
c. Music. A break in the playing or singing of a particular part during a piece of music.
ΚΠ
c1570 Art of Music (BL Add. 4911) f. 1v in J. D. Maynard Anonymous Sc. Treat. on Music (Ph.D. thesis, Indiana Univ.) (1961) II. 2 Ane figur, as Franchinus sayis, is ane representation of a rycht and amittit voce quhilk beand of a rycht voce dois schew the figuris and the nottis with a certain mesur singaball and pronunciabill, the amittit voce surlye with sylence and pausis is declarit.
1737 tr. J.-P. Rameau Treat. Music xliv. 175 This Silence [Fr. silence] or Rest can be made but upon a Concord or consonant Note.
1992 PMLA 107 470/1 Amid the whole orchestra, playing its softest, the horns fall silent...But the silence is unmistakably an expressive gesture as well.
2.
a. The state or condition when nothing is audible; complete quietness or stillness; an absence of all sound or noise.In early use also more broadly: peacefulness, tranquillity; absence of agitation or disturbance.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > inaudibility > [noun] > silence
stillnessc1050
silence?c1225
clum1340
stillhead1340
quiet?c1450
whust1558
husht1566
muteness1590
silency1595
still1608
hushtness1609
whistness1609
silentness1664
noiselessness1834
soundlessness1834
non-speech1863
shush1954
deafening silence1968
ciunas1986
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 314 Alswa efter þe ancres complie oðet prime, ne don nan þing ne seggen hwar þurch hire silence muȝe beon to sturbed.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Isa. viii. 6 The watris of Siloe, that gon with cilence [L. silentio].
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) v. l. 1064 (MED) Mordre gladly is wrouȝt in silence Or men aduerte or taken any kepe.
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 114 Lucina schyning in silence of the nycht.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. i. sig. Cc5 Whenas all the world in silence deepe Yshrowded was.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet ii. ii. 487 But as we often see against some storme, A silence in the heauens. View more context for this quotation
1645 J. Milton Upon Circumcision in Poems 21 Through the soft silence of the list'ning night.
1785 W. Cowper Task vi. 84 Stillness, accompanied with sounds so soft, Charms more than silence.
1833 T. B. Macaulay Armada in Friendship's Offering 19 Then bugle's note and cannon's roar the deathlike silence broke.
1931 Chillicothe (Missouri) Constit. 19 Mar. 1/3 An ominous silence hung today over the riot torn model prison at Statesville and rebellious convicts went unfed.
2001 T. Winton Dirt Music (2003) 416 A solitary groan issued from the silence.
b. Used allusively to refer to the state of being dead. Cf. Phrases 4b(b).
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > [noun] > state or condition of
deathOE
homeOE
restOE
sleepOE
powderc1300
corruptiona1340
gravec1380
darkness1535
silence1535
tomb1559
iron sleep1573
another country1597
iron slumber1604
deadness1607
deadlihead1612
deadlihood1659
nothingness1813
unlivingness1914
post-mortemity1922
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms cxv. C The deed prayse not the (o Lorde) nether all they that go downe in to sylence.
1807 W. Wordsworth Ode in Poems II. 156 Cherish us, and make Our noisy years seem moments in the being Of the eternal Silence.
1851 T. Carlyle Life J. Sterling i. i. 7 To return silently, with his small, sorely foiled bit of work, to the Supreme Silences.
1908 E. Miller Martyrs of Moors 55 In fear and darkness his soul floated out to the great Silence.
2004 Salmagundi Winter 94 Before the final silence, we often end our existence with the word.
c. A short period of communal silence and stillness, observed as a public mark of respect for a person or group of people who have died; spec. the two minutes' silence held in many Commonwealth countries at 11 a.m. on Armistice Day or (since 1946) Remembrance Sunday. Frequently with modifying word specifying the length of the pause, as in minute's silence or two minutes' silence (also two-minute silence). Cf. moment of silence n. at moment n. 1f.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > memory > reminder, putting in mind > commemoration, remembrance > [noun] > solemn or religious remembrance
minda1325
obsequyc1385
wreath-laying1888
Remembrance Day1895
Veterans Day1912
silence1919
Poppy Day1921
Remembrance Sunday1925
moment of silence1942
1919 Times 28 Apr. 9/2 The address was followed by a minute's silence, which the audience was invited to spend in reflection upon the dead.
1919 Times 7 Nov. 12/1 Shopkeepers and their customers will, it is hoped, agree to a pause during the two minutes' silence. People in the streets can cooperate by simply standing still.
1926 A. Topham Chron. Prussian Court xx. 245 We discussed among other things the Titanic disaster which had recently happened, and I remember referring to ‘the silence’ of two minutes by which the Canadian railways and churches had honoured the memory of the Canadians who had perished.
1946 Daily Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) 11 Nov. 16/1 Conclusion of the Silence was marked by the Last Post by the bugles of the Jamaica Battalion.
1972 ‘E. Lathen’ Murder without Icing (1973) xxii. 188 The game was preceded by a two-minute silence in memory of Billy Sicagusa.
1985 New Direct. 49 32 She forgot to observe the silence in memory of John Lennon's death that past Sunday.
2012 Daily Post (Nexis) 12 Nov. 5 During the silence, I remembered all those Welsh men and women who have given their lives..in the service of our country.
3.
a. Omission or avoidance of mention or discussion of a particular topic, esp. one that is shocking, distressing, sensitive, or controversial; failure or refusal to give a statement, opinion, or reply regarding an issue. Also: the fact of not being mentioned or recorded. With reference to speech and writing.See also deafening silence n. at deafening adj. 1b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > [noun] > omission of mention
silencea1513
the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > ignoring, disregard > [noun] > passing over, omission > in a narrative
silencea1513
pretermission1704
the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > ignoring, disregard > [noun] > passing over, omission > in writing
silence1525
a1513 H. Bradshaw Lyfe St. Werburge (1521) i. i. sig. a.iiii It were no reason, her name be had in scylence But to the people her name be magnyfyed.
1525 R. Whitford tr. St. Augustine Rule sig. c.j You ben more noyouse & greter enemyes vnto those offenders (sythe ye myght in shewyng theyr defaute correcte & refourme your felowes) than ye be whan (by your sylence [L. tacendo]) you suffre them to perysshe.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary ii. 206 By Don Jeans silence from Spaine, this overture..tooke no effect as long as the Queene lived.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 385 Strength from Truth divided..to glorie aspires Vain glorious, and through infamie seeks fame: Therfore Eternal silence be thir doome. View more context for this quotation
1698 tr. F. Froger Relation Voy. Coasts Afr. sig. Aj The silence of all those who made the voyage with me, constrained me to expose it to publick view.
1771 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. liv. 227 I understand that the public are not satisfied with my silence;—that an answer is expected from me.
1790 W. Paley Horæ Paulinæ ii. i. 9 The silence of the historian..concerning any contribution, might lead us to look out for some different journey.
1854 W. Maccall tr. B. Spinoza Treat. Politics viii. 83 The matter must be taken up as an accusation by him who presides over the supreme court of justice, or in the case of his silence, by any one of the Patricians who is so disposed, and who must demand the reason of the silence from the president of the Syndics, as well as from those of the senate and of the judges.
1968 H. G. Koenigsberger in R. B. Wernham Counter-reformation & Price Revol., 1559–1610 (1990) 252 Philip's own captain-general..was in despair at the silence from Madrid.
2014 ‘R. Galbraith’ Silkworm (2015) x. 98 While he would have found it distasteful showboating if Strike had held forth about his experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq.., his silence on these subjects had been almost more irritating.
b. The fact or action of refraining from communicating in writing, esp. by neglecting to respond to a letter, message, etc. In later use also: the fact or action of not writing or publishing one’s writing for a period of time.
ΚΠ
a1555 J. Careless in M. Coverdale Certain Lett. Martyrs (1564) 617 Lest by my to long silence, my great ingratitude for your loue and godly letters, shuld to muche appeare, I haue here in haste scribled these fewe wordes vnto you.
1626 S. D'Ewes Let. 6 July in Autobiogr. & Corr. (1845) II. 187 Perhaps you will wonder, and not unjustlie, at my long silence.
1746 E. Burke Let. May in Leadbeater Papers (1862) II. 78 I heartily wish for your recovery and forgive your silence, but methinks you might have employed some friend to give me an account of it.
1814 J. Brown Let. 6 July in H. A. Fay Coll. Official Accts. Battles between U.S. & Great Brit., 1812–15 (1817) 209 Sir—Excuse my silence—I have been much engaged.
1838 E. Bulwer-Lytton Alice III. xx. ii. 166 One day, after a prolonged silence from Vargrave, whose letters all breathed comfort and assurance..his messenger returned from the post-town with a letter in the hand of De Montaigne.
1994 Guardian (Nexis) 18 Feb. 20 And so began, in the mid-1930s, the long inexplicable silence... This was not, he [sc. Henry Roth] insists, writer's block.
2016 www.bookwormroom.com 25 Nov. (blog, accessed 7 Feb. 2020) My apologies for my silence over the past 24 hours. The fact is that I find myself without much to say today.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > office > symbol of office or authority > [noun] > hammer to command silence or order
silence1556
gavel1848
society > communication > indication > signalling > audible signalling > signalling with other sounding instruments > [noun] > small hammer, gavel, etc.
silence1556
hammer1717
1556 in E. B. Jupp & W. W. Pocock Hist. Acct. Worshipful Company of Carpenters (1887) 139 He helde not his peess before the master hade knockyd with the sylence iij tymes.
5. Frequently with capital initial. Absence of speech or sound personified.
ΚΠ
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 604 The wakeful Nightingale..all night long her amorous descant sung; Silence was pleas'd. View more context for this quotation
1816 P. B. Shelley Alastor 5 And Silence, too enamoured of that voice, Locks its mute music in her rugged cell.
a1875 G. M. Hopkins Poems (1967) 31 Elected Silence, sing to me.
2012 Poetry (Chicago) July 334 Silence is dead. (Long live silence.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > insipidity > [noun]
wearishnessa1398
unsavouriness1422
tastelessness1600
flashinessa1603
wallowishness1603
insipidity1611
insipidnessa1631
deadness1707
flatness1707
mawkishness1727
walshness1808
ditchwateriness1840
savourlessness1841
blandness1846
silence1879
the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > distilled drink > [noun] > lack of flavour in
silence1879
1879 Spons' Encycl. Manuf. I. 229 Owing to its ‘silence’, there is no possibility of detecting afterwards from what source it has been obtained.
7. Molecular Biology. Absence or reduction of the expression of a gene or genetic material, occurring either as a natural process or as a result of genetic engineering. Cf. silent adj. 7b.
ΚΠ
1967 Sci. Amer. Apr. 32/2 The silence of these genes..could be attributed to failure either of transcription of the DNA of the gene into messenger RNA or of translation of the messenger RNA into protein.
1984 Proc. National Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 81 2806/2 The HPRT locus is extraordinarily useful for exploring the role of DNA methylation in maintaining the silence of the inactive X chromosome.
2013 D. R. Prothero Bringing Fossils to Life v. 100/2 A small mutation in a regulatory gene can make a radical change in the expression or silence of a whole string of structural genes that it controls.
B. int.
Used as a command to a person or group: ‘be quiet’; ‘don't make any noise’. Cf. quiet int.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > inaudibility > be silent [interjection]
silence?c1225
peacec1390
whista1425
softlya1500
softc1500
husht1532
ist1540
st1552
soft and peace1576
pocas palabras1592
isse1598
hist1599
whish1635
whisht1684
quiet1814
fusht1816
pax1843
sh1847
pst1863
ciunas1987
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 56 Silence eauer [ed] mete.
1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream v. i. 256 But silence: here comes Thisby. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vii. 216 Silence, ye troubl'd waves, and thou Deep, peace. View more context for this quotation
1729 A. Pope Dunciad (new ed.) iii. 159 Silence, ye Wolves! while Ralph to Cynthia howls.
a1822 P. B. Shelley Cyclops in Posthumous Poems (1824) 349 Silence now! Ye know the close device.
1873 J. A. Symonds Stud. Greek Poets vii. 225 Silence! Hush! what noise was this?
2003 Dayton (Ohio) Daily News (Nexis) 29 Mar. a13 The auditorium door burst open and Miss Clark stalked into the room. ‘Silence!’ she roared.
Phrases
P1. to keep (one's) silence (also to hold (one's) silence): to refrain from speaking; to refrain from discussing or remarking on a specific matter. [Compare Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French faire silence (c1210).]
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > be silent/refrain from speaking [verb (intransitive)]
to hold one's tonguec897
to keep one's tonguec897
to be (hold oneself) stilla1000
to say littleOE
to hold one's mouthc1175
to shut (also close) one's mouthc1175
to keep (one's) silence?c1225
to hold (also have, keep) one's peacea1275
stillc1330
peacec1395
mum1440
to say neither buff nor baff1481
to keep (also play) mum1532
to charm the tonguec1540
to have (also set, keep) a hatch before the door1546
hush1548
to play (at) mumbudgeta1564
not to say buff to a wolf's shadow1590
to keep a still tongue in one's head1729
to sing small1738
to sew up1785
let that fly stick in (or to) the wall1814
to say (also know) neither buff nor stye1824
to choke back1844
mumchance1854
to keep one's trap shut1899
to choke up1907
to belt up1949
to keep (or stay) shtum1958
shtum1958
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 20 From ouwer compelin oðet Preciosa beo iseid. haldeð silence.
c1300 St. Brendan (Laud) l. 324 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 228 Hov holde ȝe so silence þat neuer on ne spekez with oþur?
c1480 (a1400) St. Ninian 336 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 313 As þai come til his presence, he gert þe puple kepe scilence.
c1500 (a1473) Syon Additions Sisters (Arundel) in J. Hogg Rewyll Seynt Sauioure (1980) IV. liii. 176 All schal there kepe hygh silence.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. xviij He required him that his aduersaries might kepe silence.
1782 J. Priestley Hist. Corruptions Christianity II. ix. 211 They kept a strict silence all the week.
1819 P. B. Shelley Cenci iv. iv. 74 He keeps firm silence; but these lines found on him May speak.
1944 A. Thirkell Headmistress (1996) xiii. 336 Mr. Belton..was in that state of letting off steam that he would have taken the whole Albert Hall into his confidence sooner than keep silence.
1949 Manch. Guardian 10 June 3/1 Miss Utley held her silence publicly until it seemed that there was no chance of his release.
2018 Manila Times (Nexis) 13 July The President said he would keep his silence from now on.
P2. to break (the) silence.† a. To speak instead of maintaining habitual silence or silence imposed by spiritual or religious practice. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > be silent/refrain from speaking [verb (intransitive)] > break the silence
to break (the) silence?c1225
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 254 Of gruchunge of grim chere of silence ibroken.
1442 in A. H. Thompson Visitations Relig. Houses Diocese Lincoln (1919) II. 52 Rede som seynts lyfe..to thentent to eschewe..brekyng of your sylence.
a1500 Form of Confession (Nero A.iii) in W. Maskell Monumenta Ritualia Ecclesiae Anglicanae (1882) III. 302 (MED) Of all ydyll words that I haue spokyn, or sylence brokyn lesse or more, at vnconvenyent tyme and place with bretherne or seculers, etc., I aske god mercy.
b. To begin to speak after refraining from speech for a considerable period of time, spec. to speak about or disclose something shocking, distressing, sensitive, or controversial for the first time after a period of refraining from discussing it. Often as to break one's silence.
ΚΠ
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. l. 1302 Thus fulofte my silence I breke.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. i. sig. B He [sc. Morpheus] mumbled soft, but would not all his silence breake.
1800 E. Hamilton Mem. Mod. Philosphers III. x. 227 By being delivered in presence of her friend, it [sc. the love-letter] laid her under the necessity of breaking the silence she had hitherto observed to Maria on the subject of Carradine's addresses.
1842 R. Browning Pied Piper of Hamelin in Bells & Pomegranates No. III: Dramatic Lyrics iv An hour they sate in council, At length the Mayor broke silence.
1927 Washington Post 3 Dec. 1/8 Gov. Alfred E. Smith of New York State tonight broke his silence on the prohibition question.
2006 Caribbean Rev. Bks. May 25/2 Nani..passes on, but not before breaking her silence to tell the story of her grandmother's journey from India.
c. To utter something or make noise after a period of complete quiet.
ΚΠ
1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Seuen First Bks. Eneidos i. sig. B.iiiv Whan they wer in, and licence had before the quene to speke, The gretest lord sir Ilionee, thus gan the silence breke.
1786 R. Burns Poems 63 He gaped wide, but naething spak, At length poor Mailie silence brak.
1908 Auckland Weekly News 17 Dec. 50/1 It is only occasionally that the silence is broken by the liquid notes of the tui and the bell-bird.
2019 Indian Express (Nexis) 27 Oct. The silence was broken by a few sniffs that would turn to sobs.
P3. in silence: without speaking; without making any noise or sound.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > [adverb]
in silencea1382
without language?c1450
sub silentio1563
monkishly1595
wordlessly1840
pauciloquently1844
speechlessly1847
taciturnly1847
reticently1859
incommunicativelya1862
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1965) Eccles. x. 11 If þe edder bijte in scilense [L. in silentio]: no thing lasse þan he: haþ þat priuyly bacbiteþ.
a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1869) I. 93 (MED) We shulden be tymes reste, and preye to God in scilence.
c1475 Advice to Lovers in J. O. Halliwell Select. Minor Poems J. Lydgate (1840) 41 He kept the nyhte in peas and silence.
1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 566 In speech will I ever render thankes, and in silence acknowledge my selfe most deepely endebted.
1746 P. Francis tr. Horace in P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Epistles i. xvii. 75 But had the Crow his Food in Silence eat, Less had his Quarrels been.
1757 W. Wilkie Epigoniad vii. 192 Amaz'd we stood; in silence, each his mind To fear and hope alternately resign'd.
1827 in W. Scott Chron. Canongate Introd. App. The next toast..he wished to be drunk in solemn silence.
1947 A. Ransome Great Northern? viii. 111 The Sea Bear slipped on in silence towards the big white motor yacht.
2001 I. McEwan Atonement 214 They sat in silence on the hay bales smoking the first cigarette of the day.
P4.
a. to put silence to and variants: to refute, confound, or disprove completely; to defeat in argument; to prohibit or prevent from speaking. Now somewhat rare. [Originally after post-classical Latin silentium imponere (Vulgate).]
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > refutation, disproof > refute, disprove [verb (transitive)] > completely
to put silence toc1384
to put (a person or thing) to silencea1464
convell1536
silence1592
to reduce (a person or thing) to silence1605
explode1629
to fetch overa1640
out-argue1662
ruin1665
settle1849
scuttle1888
skyrocket1928
banjax1956
society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restrain [verb (transitive)] > reduce to silence by restraint
to put silence toc1384
to put (a person or thing) to silencea1464
silence1553
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > loss or lack of voice > deprive of voice [verb (transitive)] > put to silence
to put silence toc1384
to stop (one's own or another's) mouthc1384
to put (a person or thing) to silencea1464
mumc1475
stillc1540
to button up (a person's) lip (also mouth)1601
obacerate1656
bouche1721
to shut up1814
to pipe down1926
to button (a person's) lip (also mouth)1968
the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > refrain from uttering [verb (transitive)] > silence or prevent from speaking > by prohibition
to put silence toc1384
to put (a person or thing) to silencea1464
silence1553
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. xxii. 34 Pharisees, heerynge that he hadde put silence to [L. silentium inposuisset] Saducees.
1496 in G. Neilson & H. Paton Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes (1918) II. 36 The saidis Lordis puttis cylence to the sade Maister David..in this mater..[under pain of] bannising.
1568 (a1508) W. Kennedy Flyting (Bannatyne) in Poems W. Dunbar (1998) I. 201 Heir I put sylence to the in all pairtis.
1677 A. Yarranton England's Improvem. 155 I know writing Books of Trade..puts a silence unto the whole History, be it never so good.
1690 W. S. Clear Declar. of Resurrection of Dead in Two. Disc. 177 From henceforth, Lord, I will put silence to this wicked Tongue of mine, which hath been so great an Instrument of Impiety.
1712 Spectator No. 450. I recover'd 15000 Pounds, which made me Amends for what she had idly squander'd, and put Silence to all my Neighbours.
2016 JonathanRod_7 11 Jan. in twitter.com (accessed 19 Nov. 2019) Well I hope this 4th title in 7 years puts silence to those disgruntled and invalid statements against this great program.
b. to put (a person or thing) to silence.† (b) To kill (a person); to put to death. Also figurative. Cf. sense A. 2b. Obsolete.
(a) To refute, confound, disprove (a person or a person's argument, opinion, remark, etc.) completely; to defeat in argument; to resolve (a matter); to prohibit or prevent from speaking.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > refutation, disproof > refute, disprove [verb (transitive)] > completely
to put silence toc1384
to put (a person or thing) to silencea1464
convell1536
silence1592
to reduce (a person or thing) to silence1605
explode1629
to fetch overa1640
out-argue1662
ruin1665
settle1849
scuttle1888
skyrocket1928
banjax1956
society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restrain [verb (transitive)] > reduce to silence by restraint
to put silence toc1384
to put (a person or thing) to silencea1464
silence1553
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > loss or lack of voice > deprive of voice [verb (transitive)] > put to silence
to put silence toc1384
to stop (one's own or another's) mouthc1384
to put (a person or thing) to silencea1464
mumc1475
stillc1540
to button up (a person's) lip (also mouth)1601
obacerate1656
bouche1721
to shut up1814
to pipe down1926
to button (a person's) lip (also mouth)1968
the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > refrain from uttering [verb (transitive)] > silence or prevent from speaking > by prohibition
to put silence toc1384
to put (a person or thing) to silencea1464
silence1553
a1464 J. Capgrave Abbreuiacion of Cron. (Cambr. Gg.4.12) (1983) 130 (MED) Withinne few dayes þe mater was put to silens.
1529 T. More Dyaloge Dyuers Maters i. vi. f.xiiiv/1 Ye haue put me to sylence that I dare not now be bolde to tell you that I haue seen yt my selfe.
1579 W. Wilkinson Confut. Familye of Loue Brief Descr. sig. iiijv Which wordes so often he repeated, that thereby he put Barry to silence.
1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius 254 Such force and dexterity, as may be able to putte your overthwart obstinacy to scilence.
1772 G. Buchanan's Paraphr. Psalms i. xxxi. 67 Let the tongue accustomed to lying, the tongue which used wantonly to provoke and pridefully slight good men, be put to silence.
1862 R. C. Trench Notes Miracles (ed. 7) xix. 326 He had put them to silence and to shame before all the people.
1879 M. J. Guest Lect. Hist. Eng. xlii. 424 Tyndale..would..sometimes put all the dignitaries to silence by his arguments.
1992 Paragraph 15 275 He puts them to silence with a single question.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > killing > kill [verb (transitive)]
swevec725
quelmeOE
slayc893
quelleOE
of-falleOE
ofslayeOE
aquellc950
ayeteeOE
spillc950
beliveOE
to bring (also do) of (one's) life-dayOE
fordoa1000
forfarea1000
asweveOE
drepeOE
forleseOE
martyrOE
to do (also i-do, draw) of lifeOE
bringc1175
off-quellc1175
quenchc1175
forswelta1225
adeadc1225
to bring of daysc1225
to do to deathc1225
to draw (a person) to deathc1225
murder?c1225
aslayc1275
forferec1275
to lay to ground, to earth (Sc. at eird)c1275
martyrc1300
strangle1303
destroya1325
misdoa1325
killc1330
tailc1330
to take the life of (also fro)c1330
enda1340
to kill to (into, unto) death1362
brittena1375
deadc1374
to ding to deathc1380
mortifya1382
perisha1387
to dight to death1393
colea1400
fella1400
kill out (away, down, up)a1400
to slay up or downa1400
swelta1400
voida1400
deliverc1400
starvec1425
jugylc1440
morta1450
to bring to, on, or upon (one's) bierc1480
to put offc1485
to-slaya1500
to make away with1502
to put (a person or thing) to silencec1503
rida1513
to put downa1525
to hang out of the way1528
dispatch?1529
strikea1535
occidea1538
to firk to death, (out) of lifec1540
to fling to deathc1540
extinct1548
to make out of the way1551
to fet offa1556
to cut offc1565
to make away?1566
occise1575
spoil1578
senda1586
to put away1588
exanimate1593
unmortalize1593
speed1594
unlive1594
execute1597
dislive1598
extinguish1598
to lay along1599
to make hence1605
conclude1606
kill off1607
disanimate1609
feeze1609
to smite, stab in, under the fifth rib1611
to kill dead1615
transporta1616
spatch1616
to take off1619
mactate1623
to make meat of1632
to turn up1642
inanimate1647
pop1649
enecate1657
cadaverate1658
expedite1678
to make dog's meat of1679
to make mincemeat of1709
sluice1749
finisha1753
royna1770
still1778
do1780
deaden1807
deathifyc1810
to lay out1829
cool1833
to use up1833
puckeroo1840
to rub out1840
cadaverize1841
to put under the sod1847
suicide1852
outkill1860
to fix1875
to put under1879
corpse1884
stiffen1888
tip1891
to do away with1899
to take out1900
stretch1902
red-light1906
huff1919
to knock rotten1919
skittle1919
liquidate1924
clip1927
to set over1931
creasea1935
ice1941
lose1942
to put to sleep1942
zap1942
hit1955
to take down1967
wax1968
trash1973
ace1975
c1503 R. Arnold Chron. sig. Avij The ij. sonnys of kinge Edward were put to silence.
1590 J. Smythe in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Lit. Men (1843) 60 My little Booke..shall be put to silence and abolished.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) i. ii. 286 Murrellus and Flauius, for pulling Scarffes off Cæsars Images, are put to silence . View more context for this quotation
P5.
a. to let (something) pass in silence (also to let pass with silence): to let (a matter, comment, etc.) pass without being commented on or acknowledged; to allow to go unchallenged.
ΚΠ
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. v. xlviii. 263 Þere I lete þis matere passe wiþ scilens.
1573 T. Twyne tr. H. Llwyd Breuiary of Britayne f. 10 And here I must not let passe with silence, that Bede the Englishman, Volaterranus, and Polydorus Italians, were shamfully ouerseene.
1709 T. Eccleston Remarks T. Andrews's Bk. 74 Yet in respect of the Truth we profess, we cannot let them pass in Silence, least that should continue under a Reproach through our neglect.
1858 Standard 15 Sept. 4/3 The successors of Usher and Taylor, and Berkeley, can afford to let insolence pass in silence.
2006 N.Y. Observer (Nexis) 9 Jan. (Culture section) 19 I don't ordinarily write mean reviews, especially of first novels. If this one hadn't come with impressive endorsements and publicity behind it, I would have let it pass in silence.
b. to pass over (something) in silence (also to pass over with silence): (of a person, text, account, etc.) to omit or refrain from comment on or discussion of (a matter, remark, etc.). Also similarly to pass (something) in silence (also to pass something with silence).
ΚΠ
1526 W. Tyndale Prol. Epist. Rom. sig. cijv I passe over wyth sylence howe wyth oute all frute ye wyth howe tereble ignoraunce the laye and vnlerned people saye the pater noster and also the crede in the latyne tonge.
1558 J. Knox Appellation f. 25v Shall yee be excused, if with silence yee passe ouer his iniquitie?
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 1. ¶3 As for the rest of my Infancy, there being nothing in it remarkable, I shall pass it over in Silence.
1852 Ann. Reg. 1851 235/2 I ought to pass with silence the events which, in spite of myself, have produced certain dissensions which will always be to be regretted.
1896 Documents & Corr. relating Question Boundary between Brit. Guiana & Venezuela App. ii. 438 Her Britannic Majesty's Government passes in silence the arguments which I submitted in support of the most just refusal of the Venezuelan Government.
1900 Rep. Brit. Assoc. Advancem. Sci. 1900 131 These ‘intermetallic’ compounds are still passed over in silence by..books on descriptive chemistry.
2003 Jrnl. Eng. & Germanic Philol. 102 213 If this were a marginal or arcane analysis, we could understand how modern scholars might pass over it in silence.
P6. to suffer in silence: to endure hardship without complaint, comment, or objection. Also with an object specified: to endure (something undesirable or distressing) without complaint, comment, or objection.
ΚΠ
?1555 Image of Idlenesse sig. F.v Yf she thynkyng hym to be the same that made the promes, shulde perceaue hym to profer further then was promysed, yet were she better to suffer in scilence, then to make any great noyse in the rescue.
1782 M. Wodhull tr. Euripides Helen in tr. Euripides 19 Trag. & Fragm. III. 328 His Sister will not suffer this in silence If you attempt aught 'gainst her Brother's life.
1889 Sat. Rev. 9 Feb. 145/2 A brave man suffers in silence.
2009 Independent 24 Nov. 24/3 Those who suffer in silence at the hands of unreasonable or vindictive management are at higher risk of dying of a heart attack.
P7.
vow of silence n. a vow to renounce speech, esp. taken by members of certain religious or monastic orders (cf. sense A. 1b); (in extended use) a promise or commitment not to disclose a secret, private information, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > agreement > promise > [noun] > vow or oath > of particular type
abjuration?a1439
professing1560
vow of silence1567
oath of allegiance1574
vow1600
affidation1612
abjuration1621
fetish1705
affidature1727
pledge of allegiance1750
abjuration of the realm1768
oath-parole1900
Guide's honour1912
1567 G. Fenton tr. M. Bandello Certaine Tragicall Disc. f. 250 The crueltie of Zilya in bindynge hym to a vowe of scilence for iij. yeres.
a1674 Earl of Clarendon Ess. Active & Contempl. Life (1765) 77 They..hide themselves in monasteries and places of solitude; and make vows of silence.
1855 F. M. Sibthorpe Home is Home vii. 81 She mentally vowed a vow of silence upon all family secrets in future.
1977 Washington Post 1 Dec. a6/2 The spy..tried to secure a vow of silence from Gen. Kim.
2009 Music & Moving Image 2 1 The vow of silence, taken by some Christian orders or Buddhist monks,..is not only associated with the conservation of spiritual energy,..but also with the renunciation of all earthly distractions.
P8. to reduce (a person or thing) to silence.
a. To cause (a person, organization, etc.) to stop speaking or communicating; spec. to render (a person) speechless with emotion, shock, etc.; (also) to defeat (a person) completely in argument.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > refutation, disproof > refute, disprove [verb (transitive)] > completely
to put silence toc1384
to put (a person or thing) to silencea1464
convell1536
silence1592
to reduce (a person or thing) to silence1605
explode1629
to fetch overa1640
out-argue1662
ruin1665
settle1849
scuttle1888
skyrocket1928
banjax1956
the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > refrain from uttering [verb (transitive)] > silence or prevent from speaking
to stop a person's mouthc1175
stilla1225
to keep ina1420
stifle1496
to knit up1530
to muzzle (up) the mouth1531
choke1533
muzzle?1542
to tie a person's tongue1544
tongue-tiea1555
silence1592
untongue1598
to reduce (a person or thing) to silence1605
to bite in1608
gaga1616
to swear downa1616
to laugh down1616
stifle1621
to cry down1623
unworda1627
clamour1646
splint1648
to take down1656
snap1677
stick1708
shut1809
to shut up1814
to cough down1823
to scrape down1855
to howl down1872
extinguish1878
hold1901
shout1924
to pipe down1926
1605 A. Munday tr. G. Affinati Dumbe Divine Speaker xiii. 147 Whosoeuer can reduce such tongues to perpetuall silence, it wil appeare in him to be a very great office of charity.
1688 J. La Placette Of Incurable Scepticism Church of Rome iii. 13 They would be reduced to silence, and not have one authority left to boast of.
1849 M. B. Smedley Maiden Aunt 37 The mixture of authority, gentleness, and resolution, could not have been better contrived to overwhelm me with shame and reduce me to silence.
1901 Jrnl. Pedagogy 13 97 The testimony of the pupils of Socrates was that he reduced them to silence.
2015 Sc. Daily Mail (Nexis) 31 Jan. 41 Another woman tries to ask a question but is reduced to silence by the emotion of it all.
b. To disable (an enemy battery, gun, etc.), esp. through superior fire. Also more generally: to put (something noisy) out of action.
ΚΠ
1793 Sun 27 May The French Batteries having commenced a very brisk fire, they were soon reduced to silence by the superior fire of the Allies.
1915 Bakersfield Californian 15 Jan. 2/2 German batteries were reduced to silence, two pieces of artillery were demolished, a depot of ammunition was exploded and field works in course of construction were destroyed.
2013 Lancaster Guardian (Nexis) 19 Dec. Wray Mill has been reduced to silence. Its doors are closed, its chimney is smokeless, its machinery is still.
P9.
Tower of Silence n. a squat, cylindrical structure on which Parsees place the bodies of the dead to decompose from exposure to the sun or be consumed by carrion birds; cf. dakhma n. [after French tour du silence (1799 in the passage translated in quot. 1800).] Towers of Silence have a hollow centre, with the surface on which the bodies are placed sloping down slightly from the upper edge of the tower towards a pit. Once a body has fully decomposed the bones are placed in an ossuary in or near the tower. The practice was made illegal in Iran in the 1970s but continues in India.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > disposal of corpse > other means of disposal > [noun] > exposure > structure for
scaffold1777
Tower of Silence1800
1800 tr. L.-P. Anquetil Summary Universal Hist. I. 239 The dead body is carried to the tower of silence [Fr. tour du silence], where it is devoured by birds of prey.
1920 Times of India 21 Apr. The Commissioner of Police has issued a direct warning to pilots of aeroplanes now flying in Bombay to avoid flying low over the Towers of Silence.
2001 C. Bird Neither East nor West 371 Just below the tower of silence was a small cemetery where today's Zoroastrians bury their dead, in cement-lined coffins that continue to prevent direct contact with the Earth.
P10. Proverb. silence is golden: it is often wise to say nothing. Also more fully as speech is silver, silence is golden. [Ultimately after Arabic law kāna al-kalām min fiḍḍa, la-kāna al-sukūt min ḏahab (and variants) ‘if speech were made of silver, then silence would be of gold’ (9th cent. or earlier). Compare German Sprechen ist Silber, Schweigen Gold (late 18th cent. or earlier; also (and now more usually) Reden ist Silber, Schweigen ist Gold), which ultimately reflects the same Arabic proverb.]
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > taciturnity [phrase] > silence is golden
silence is golden1832
1832 Fraser's Mag. May 390/1 Out of Silence comes thy strength. ‘Speech is silvern, Silence is golden; Speech is human, Silence is divine.’
1935 M. V. Hughes Vivians vii. 138 ‘Did you tell him about that?’ ‘No, and I'm wondering whether I ought to?’ ‘I shouldn't if I were you. Silence is golden.’
1980 J. McNeil Spy Game xxv. 239 ‘I'll tell you the rest..on the way back.’ He sealed her lips with a finger. ‘Meanwhile, silence is golden.’
2009 San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News (Nexis) 30 June A passing fancy might catch your eye, but don't admit anything and upset an existing relationship. Remember: Silence is golden.
P11. the rest is silence: used to indicate that there is nothing further to say on a matter.With allusion to the last words of the dying Hamlet (see quot. 1604).
ΚΠ
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet v. ii. 363 So tell him, with th'occurrants more and lesse Which have solicited, the rest is silence.]
1838 N.-Y. Mirror 27 Jan. 244/2 The rest is silence. I will merely add, We're daily getting into some ‘bad box’.
1982 Daily Tel. 2 June 16/4 In most of the countries involved the eternal tug-of-war between Government and news media has long since ended. The curtain has fallen. The rest is silence.
2018 Sc. Express (Nexis) 23 Jan. 21 Enter Nicola Sturgeon to deliver the final rhetorical blow. The rest is silence.
P12. to shatter the silence: to make a sudden, loud noise after a period of complete quiet. Also: to speak about a sensitive topic that is not usually discussed openly.
ΚΠ
1851 G. W. Curtis Nile Notes vi. 58 One sharp, fierce cackle of dispute suddenly shattered the silence like a tropical whirlwind.
1958 C. Achebe Things fall Apart xiii. 107 The cannon shattered the silence.
2018 Bowling Green State Univ. Newswire (Nexis) 16 Apr. 1 I talked about the need for shattering the silence around pregnancy loss and miscarriage.
P13. silence gives consent: see consent n. 1c; conspiracy of silence: see conspiracy n. 2a; dome of silence: see dome n. 5e; to multiply silence: see multiply v. 2a.
Compounds
C1.
a. As a modifier with the sense ‘characterized by or relating to silence or low levels of noise’.
ΚΠ
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 19 Speke wolde he nevere, as it is i-write in þe questiouns þat he wroot in his scilence tyme [L. silendo scripsit].
c1500 (a1473) Syon Additions Sisters (Arundel) in J. Hogg Rewyll Seynt Sauioure (1980) IV. vii. 27 Eche suster..schall answer thus aȝene in lyke voyce thof it be silence tyme.
1894 Daily News 14 May 5/1 He promised the modification and virtually the abolition of the silence rule.
1958 S. Hyland Who goes Hang? xviii. 77 They were in the Silence Room of the Library, a room in which conversation..is..a tabu.
2012 Times of India (Nexis) 8 Feb. Common citizens want to protect silence zones to save them from blaring horns, ear-splitting music, loud public announcements and noisy scenes during elections.
b. With present participles, forming adjectives in which silence expresses the object of the underlying verb, as in silence-breaking, silence-loving.
ΚΠ
1625 W. Lisle tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Noe in tr. Part of Du Bartas 157 The silence-louing night and labour-guiding day.
1896 Washington Post 31 Aug. 4/7 While I drowsed there, on the night air, came a voice from out the Somewhere, penetrating, silence-breaking, shaking all my chamber floor.
2015 Scots Mag. Apr. 20/2 It says ‘cheep’ but it does so with a silence-stabbing potency.
C2.
silence box n. Australian, British, and Irish English (now rare) a booth containing a telephone for public use for a fee, situated inside a public building or railway station; cf. silence cabinet n.
ΚΠ
1889 Telephone 15 Oct. 471/1 The public is also admitted to a silence-box at the Nottingham Post Office.
1894 Daily News 28 Mar. 3/1 These particulars are telephoned into a silence-box at the Central Savings Bank.
1933 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 18 Sept. 3/6 The Island's Fruitgrowers' Society requested the department to install a silence box, because of a lack of privacy.
silence breaker n. a person who speaks or makes noise after a period of silence, or when others are silent; (now) esp. a person who speaks out publicly about something controversial, shocking, etc., that has not previously been disclosed or openly discussed; cf. Phrases 2.In early use not a fixed collocation.
ΚΠ
1605 A. Munday tr. G. Affinati Dumbe Divine Speaker Table sig. Z4v Silence breakers, the first in heauen was Lucifer, and on earth it was our grandmother Eue.
1843 Boston Courier 8 May ‘Hush, hush!’ penetrated to the extreme corners of the court, and rung like thunder in the ears of daring silence-breakers.
1994 M. K. DeShazer Poetics of Resistance vii. 277 Marjorie Agosin has described Third World women as silence breakers, storytellers, global warriors for change.
2011 @DrPhil 13 June in twitter.com (accessed 14 Feb. 2020) Silence Breakers, it's time to make some noise! Sign the pledge & do ur part to end the silence on #domesticviolence.
silence cabinet n. now historical (a) Australian, British, and Irish English a booth containing a telephone for public use for a fee, situated inside a public building or railway station; cf. silence box n.; (b) (at the BBC) a booth either inside or adjacent to a studio from which a producer supervises a broadcast.
ΚΠ
1889 W. H. Preece & J. Maier Telephone xiv. 231 At most telephone exchanges a silence cabinet is provided in the public office, which subscribers are permitted to use for communication with their own offices, or with other subscribers.
1925 Programme Presentation (BBC Written Archives Centre: R35/728) 5 Each silence cabinet must be equipped with controls for fading in and out each microphone, with signal light controls, reading desk, signal light switching and telephone.
1929 B.B.C. Year-bk. 1930 309 In Savoy Hill there are nine studios, six of which are equipped with silence cabinets (these are small rooms adjacent to the studios from which the announcer can speak before switching over to the studio itself).
2005 B. Hennessy Emergence Broadcasting in Brit. ix. 371 The three microphones were controlled from a desk in the silence cabinet from which the producer could select the combination to be used at any time.
2019 Sunshine Coast (Queensland) Daily (Nexis) 9 Feb. 42 In 1931, the Coolum Beach branch approached the Department of Posts and Telegraphs for a telephone silence cabinet to be built at the post office.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2020; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
silencev.
/ˈsʌɪləns/, /ˈsʌɪln̩s/, U.S. /ˈsaɪləns/ 1. intransitive. To cease speaking; to become silent or still.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > inaudibility > be silent [verb (intransitive)]
swiec900
peacec1395
husht1530
hust1530
whista1547
silence1551
whust1558
quieta1572
whush1581
whish1607
whisht1815
hist1867
quieten1890
sh1925
shush1929
the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > be silent/refrain from speaking [verb (intransitive)] > stop speaking
to make up one's mouthc1175
to shut (also close) one's mouthc1175
blina1300
dumba1300
leavea1375
to put a sock in ita1529
hush1548
silence1551
stay1551
stow1567
stop1579
to save one's breath (also wind)1605
tace1697
stubble it!1699
shut your trap!1796
to keep a calm (or quiet) sough1808
stubble your whids!1830
to shut up1840
to dry up1853
pawl1867
subside1872
to pipe down1876
to shut (one's) head, face1876
shurrup1893
to shut off1896
clam1916
dry1934
shtum1958
to oyster up1973
1551 R. Crowley Philargyrie sig. A.ivv Then forth he stode Wyth full mylde mode Desyrynge them silence Tyll he had tolde All that he wolde Vnto that Audience.
1578 J. Rolland Seuin Seages 30 The Heralds bad sone silence all and ceis.
1594 R. Carew tr. T. Tasso Godfrey of Bulloigne iv. 174 There silenc'd she, and seemed a disdaine Royall, and noble flamed in her face.
1886 E. Randolph Mostly Fools III. i. 25 The busy bustling room silenced and sobered instantly.
1988 L. J. Rosenberg Dillard's i. 10 Dillard's voice lowered and the crowd silenced as he shared what he called his secret to success.
2014 @CenaCentralCom 27 Jan. in twitter.com (accessed 13 Aug. 2019) As soon as Daniel spoke, the crowd silenced to hear him.
2.
a. transitive. To prevent or prohibit (a person or group) from speaking or communicating, esp. in order to prevent the free expression of opinions.In 17th and 18th cent. frequently with reference to the prohibiting of ministerial preaching and services (see e.g. quots. 1663 and 1798). Cf. silenced adj. 1a.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restrain [verb (transitive)] > reduce to silence by restraint
to put silence toc1384
to put (a person or thing) to silencea1464
silence1553
the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > refrain from uttering [verb (transitive)] > silence or prevent from speaking > by prohibition
to put silence toc1384
to put (a person or thing) to silencea1464
silence1553
1553 J. Brooks Serm. Notable Paules Crosse sig. D.viiiv Hath there been any catholike of late yeares refusyng subscription, but that hath been, other depriued, other imprisoned, other banished their company, other at leaste silenced?
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 v. ii. 96 Imagine me taking your part, And in your power soft silencing your sonne. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) ii. i. 244 He would Haue..silenc'd their Pleaders, And dispropertied their Freedomes. View more context for this quotation
1663 England's Remembrancer xiii. 309 Banishing, imprisoning, and silencing Ministers.
1798 J. Bean Aspects & Duties of Times 20 Our churches will be shut; our ministers silenced; our sabbaths abolished.
1861 W. F. Hook Lives Archbishops I. i. 2 Oppression was legalised and Parliaments were silenced.
2008 Christian Sci. Monitor (Nexis) 29 July (World section) 6 Critics accuse him of using harassment, payoffs, and violence as a tool to silence the opposition.
b. transitive. To repress, bring to an end (a thought, emotion, expression, etc.); to suppress, quash (a practice, activity, opinion, etc., esp. one that challenges or criticizes).
ΚΠ
1621 R. Brathwait Times Curtaine Drawne sig. N3 And younger Brothers, onely heires of wit For want of meanes, are forc'd to silence it!
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan iv. xlvi. 380 Let them [sc. opinions] be silenced by the Laws of those, to whom the Teachers of them are subject.
1788 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall IV. xlv. 434 The complaints of the people could no longer be silenced by the splendid names of a legislator and a conqueror.
1798 tr. A.-L.-G. de Staël Treat. Infl. Passions ii. ii. 223 The terrific image of death, it silences all petty rivalries.
1831 Rep. Superior Court N.Y. 1 514 It effectually extinguishes all possibility of benefit to him from that source, and silences all his hopes and pretensions.
1833 H. Martineau Tale of Tyne vii. 124 She vehemently silenced poor Tim's suggestions.
1986 Partisan Rev. Summer 355 Success, even in the pursuit of the most debased goals, tends to silence doubt and criticism.
2008 Irish Times (Nexis) 5 Sept. 14/1 The government's claims to be holding democratic elections is challenged by reports of actions taken to silence dissent.
3. transitive. To leave (something) unmentioned or undiscussed; to pass over in silence, to omit. rare after 17th cent.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > ignoring, disregard > ignore, disregard [verb (transitive)] > omit, pass over > in speaking, writing
passa1425
missa1450
ferry1477
pretermit1542
silence1570
slip1607
reticence1833
to miss out1855
to skate over or round1928
1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) II. 1291/1 Amonge other Actes and matters passed and done this present yeare..here is not to be silenced the vnworthy and lamentable death of Robert Packington.
1602 W. Warner Epitome Hist. Eng. in Albions Eng. (rev. ed.) 381 The Surname Tuder: wherein..that of Plantagenet is inclusiuely scilenced.
1627 W. Sclater Briefe Expos. 2 Thess. (1629) 133 The..coniectures of the late Interpreter..I willingly silence.
2009 Letras Femeninas 35 74 Matilde stresses that she must silence the last name and lineage of the parties involved, for they were even omitted in the original tale.
4.
a. transitive. To cause or compel (a person) to cease speaking or making noise on a particular occasion; to cause to become silent. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > refutation, disproof > refute, disprove [verb (transitive)] > completely
to put silence toc1384
to put (a person or thing) to silencea1464
convell1536
silence1592
to reduce (a person or thing) to silence1605
explode1629
to fetch overa1640
out-argue1662
ruin1665
settle1849
scuttle1888
skyrocket1928
banjax1956
the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > refrain from uttering [verb (transitive)] > silence or prevent from speaking
to stop a person's mouthc1175
stilla1225
to keep ina1420
stifle1496
to knit up1530
to muzzle (up) the mouth1531
choke1533
muzzle?1542
to tie a person's tongue1544
tongue-tiea1555
silence1592
untongue1598
to reduce (a person or thing) to silence1605
to bite in1608
gaga1616
to swear downa1616
to laugh down1616
stifle1621
to cry down1623
unworda1627
clamour1646
splint1648
to take down1656
snap1677
stick1708
shut1809
to shut up1814
to cough down1823
to scrape down1855
to howl down1872
extinguish1878
hold1901
shout1924
to pipe down1926
1592 J. Throckmorton Petition most Excellent Maiestie 26 If they speake, they be silenced: if they write, they wante printers.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. iv. 4 Ile silence me euen heere, Pray you be round. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) v. i. 180 Silence that fellow: I would he had some cause to prattle for himselfe. View more context for this quotation
1683 D. A. Whole Art Converse 18 If they happen to be silenc'd by another they become on a sudden ill humour'd.
1736 Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. i. i. 16 How difficult it is to silence Imagination enough to make the Voice of Reason even distinctly heard.
1797 A. Radcliffe Italian II. ii. 79 Paulo was silenced for a while, by a significant look from his master.
1825 W. Scott Betrothed i, in Tales Crusaders II. 20 Silenced by this hint, the chirurgeon betook himself to his proper duty.
1877 J. A. Froude Short Stud. (1883) IV. i. iv. 47 The Archbishop of York peculiarly irritated Becket, and was silenced by a violent answer.
1933 D. L. Sayers Hangman's Holiday (1978) 75 She started to scream and he took hold of her throat to silence her.
2019 Times of India (Nexis) 4 Aug. He tries to extend the conversation but she silences him.
b. transitive. To deprive (a person) of a possible reply or counter-argument; to refute, confound (a person) completely; to shock, render speechless; to defeat in argument.
ΚΠ
1596 M. Sutcliffe Exam. Cartwrights Late Apol. To Rdr. f. 8 Apply this to Iob Throk. and you shall see it fitteth him well, hauing bene silenced with shame ynough.
1733 Present State of Popery 21 This learned priest has silenc'd the parson.
1834 Times 6 Nov. 3/2 It is very seldom that the Ministers themselves ever reply at any length to the continual attacks of the Opposition. The task chiefly devolves on Messrs. Joaquim Antonio de Magalhaes, and Rodrigo de Fonseca de Magalhaes, the better of whom generally succeeds in silencing them.
1943 College Eng. 5 92/1 The engineers can silence us by pointing out that strictly technical schools have made much more radical changes.
2003 N.Y. Times 2 Mar. ii. 1/4 Mr. Reid has not only managed to stay in the picture, he has also silenced his critics with a string of multimillion-selling albums.
c. transitive. To cause (an animal or object) to stop making a noise; to still, quieten.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > inaudibility > make inaudible [verb (transitive)] > silence
quiet1423
hust1530
whish1542
whist1557
whust1558
husht1598
silencea1616
whisht1804
mute1891
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) ii. iii. 168 Silence that dreadfull bell, it frights the Isle From her propriety. View more context for this quotation
1735 T. Sheridan in J. Swift Lett. (1768) IV. 99 Upon desiring him to silence our dog.
1979 V. Capel Burglar Alarm Syst. x. 107 An intruder could soon silence the alarm by..cutting the bell wiring.
2018 Times (Nexis) 14 Apr. 22 The two snowfalls of last month stalled spring in its tracks, silencing the birds,..and shrivelling the bramble leaves.
d. transitive. To stop, suppress (a noise or sound).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > inaudibility > make inaudible [verb (transitive)] > silence > stop a sound
still1390
extinguish1540
clamoura1616
unshouta1616
silence1617
slumber1622
clam1674
mash1930
1617 J. Davies Wits Bedlam sig. F7 It's easie to cry Hisse; but, tis not so To silence it, and Claps of hands to raise.
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian v, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. II. 121 Silence her cursed noise, if you should throttle her.
1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe III. i. 31 An awful pause of horror silenced each murmur of the armed spectators.
1927 Courier & Advertiser (Dundee) 5 May 9/4 He went to the telephone and silenced the shrilling of its bell by unhooking the receiver.
2018 Birmingham Evening Mail (Nexis) 8 Mar. 9 Two armed thugs tied and gagged a terrified couple to silence their screams before they stole their car.
e. transitive. To prevent (a telephone or other device) from ringing or producing an audible signal; (now) esp. to switch (a mobile phone or other electronic device) to silent mode (silent mode n. at silent adj. and n. Compounds 2).
ΚΠ
1920 New Way May 6/1 Silencing the Phone. I had disconnected the telephone so as to have a quiet hour with myself.
1999 Newsweek 4 Oct. (front matter) (advt.) Profile settings..let you silence your phone during important meetings.
2018 W. R. Miller Listening Well xiii. 59 Some have family conversations at the dinner table, turning off music or TV and silencing phones or other devices.
5. transitive. Military and Navy. To force (an enemy gun, battery, ship, etc.) to cease firing; to disable by superior fire. Also: to stop (the fire of an enemy gun).
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > putting weapons or equipment out of action > put weapons or equipment out of action [verb (transitive)] > silence a gun
silence1658
1658 W. Sanderson Compl. Hist. Life King Charles 775 Onslow in the Lane had set up a Demy Culverin, till a shot from the House silenced his Gun.
1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random I. xxxiii. 289 The enemy's fire..slackened, and towards evening was quite silenced.
1755 in Naval Chron. (1799) 1 9 We silenced three of her lower deck guns.
1845 H. H. Wilson Hist. Brit. India 1805–35 I. vi. 345 The batteries..opened on the town and fort, and soon silenced their fire.
1893 W. Forbes-Mitchell Reminisc. Great Mutiny 96 A number of the best shots..were selected to try and silence the fire from the battery.
2003 National Post (Canada) 6 Mar. a7/3 The Canadian troops managed to take the ridge by using innovative tactics such as accurate counter-battery fire to silence German guns.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > physical insensibility > dullness of sense perception > dull (the senses) [verb (transitive)] > stun
asweveOE
stonyc1330
astone1340
astony1340
stouna1400
stounda1400
stuna1400
stoynec1450
dozen1487
astonish1530
benumb1530
daunt1581
dammisha1598
still1778
silence1785
to knock, lay (out), etc., cold1829
to lay out1891
out1896
wooden1904
to knock rotten1919
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > causing to come or go down > cause to come or go down [verb (transitive)] > bring to the ground/lay low > knock down > specifically a person or animal
fellOE
to strike down1470
quell1535
to run down1587
to trip (also turn, tumble, kick, etc.) up a person's heels1587
to strike up the heels of1602
level1770
silence1785
grass1814
send1822
to send to grass1845
beef1926
deck1953
1785 F. Grose Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue To silence a man, to knock him down, or stun him.
7. transitive. To get rid of (something unwanted or inconvenient) by maintaining silence. With away. Now colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > refrain from uttering [verb (transitive)] > get rid of by maintaining silence
silence1788
1788 F. Burney Diary & Lett. (1842) IV. 197 The subject..being always embarrassing to me.., I silenced it away.
1993 Guardian (Nexis) 31 Dec. 4 Are the guilty now paying for their crime? Of course not. The evidence was simply silenced away.
8. transitive. euphemistic. To kill (a person).
ΚΠ
1854 T. Taylor & C. Reade Two Loves & Life iii. iii. 52 I was minded to silence him with a bullet; but after all, he is more fool than knave.
1967 European Stars & Stripes (Darmstadt, Germany) 8 Apr. 5/5 He..refused most food and drinks for fear his erstwhile spymasters might silence him with poison.
2007 Sunday Times (Nexis) 12 Aug. (Culture section) 21 The aberrant intellectual is simply silenced with a bullet, piano wire or a head-crushing boot.
9. transitive. Molecular Biology. To suppress (the expression of a gene or genetic material), either naturally or as a result of genetic engineering. Cf. silent adj. 7b.
ΚΠ
1967 W. S. Bullough Evol. Differentiation v. 119 The ultimate in stability is reached in any tissue in which all the genes are finally silenced and in which all control is exercised at the RNA level.
1989 BioScience 39 590/1 The antisense sequence would be complementary to the messenger RNA (mRNA) transcribed from the gene..and therefore able to bind and silence the mRNA.
2011 Times 12 Mar. 26/2 Genes may be silenced, ignored or modified by environmental factors encountered by the developing organism.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2020; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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