tonguelessadj.
/ˈtʌŋlɪs/ 1. literal. Having no tongue, without a tongue.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > deformity > deformities of specific parts > [adjective] > other deformities
tongueless1398
unbowelled1592
liverless1598
dicephalous1808
disomatous1857
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) xviii. xxxii Amonge beestes of þe londe he [the crocodile] is tungles.
1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Hi/2 Tonguelesse, elinguis e.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Gouttreuse, a certain white, long-beaked, and tonglesse bird [a pelican].
1738 Gentleman's Mag. Oct. 524/1 I doubt very much, whether a Tongueless Person, or one that is without a Roof to the Mouth, can Taste.
1876 L. Stephen Hist. Eng. Thought 18th Cent. I. iv. vi. 267 The miracle of the tongueless confessor is mentioned by Gibbon as resting on remarkably good evidence.
1879 J. W. Boddam-Whetham Roraima & Brit. Guiana 171 (note) Herodotus, too, who was a keen observer of the crocodile, repeats the idea that it is tongueless.
1907 Q. Rev. July 201 The most revered objects in the ti are the bells, usually tongueless.
2.
a. Without the faculty of voice or speech, dumb, mute; also, without speaking, speechless, silent.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > inaudibility > [adjective] > silent
coyc1330
stone-still1338
quietc1384
softa1393
peacec1400
swownc1400
tongueless1447
clumc1485
mutec1500
whist1513
silent1542
dead1548
husht1557
whisted1557
whust1558
whust1558
whisht1570
huisht1576
quiet (also mum, mute, still, etc.) as a mouse (in a cheese)1584
fordead1593
noiseless1608
whisha1612
dumba1616
soundlessa1616
st1655
silentish1737
defta1763
sleeping1785
untoned1807
mousy1812
soughless1851
deathlike1856
whisperless1863
deathly1865
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > vocal disorders > [adjective] > dumb
speechlessa1000
dumbc1000
deaf and dumb?c1225
mutec1400
tongueless1447
voiceless1535
wordless1648
tongue-tied1707
deaf-dumb1822
deaf-mute1837
utterless1854
unspeakable1888
1447 O. Bokenham Lyvys Seyntys (1835) 196 Why stonde ye thus stylle, be ye tunglees?
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 287v That persone, by whose benefite thou art made of a tounglesse bodye, eloquente.
?1608 S. Lennard tr. P. Charron Of Wisdome i. xxxi. 96 We go with our heads hanging,..our mouthes tonguelesse.
1630 J. Taylor Anagrams & Sonn. in Wks. ii. 256/2 Now chirping birds are all turn'd tounglesse mutes.
1824 J. Symmons tr. Æschylus Agamemnon 73 The mighty judges heard the tongueless plea.
b. Said of things.
ΚΠ
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II i. i. 105 Euen from the tounglesse Cauernes of the earth. View more context for this quotation
1624 Bp. F. White Replie to Iesuit Fishers Answere 92 The consent of the Church alone..ought to be of greater esteeme..than all mute and tonguelesse Bookes.
a1822 P. B. Shelley Ess. & Lett. (1852) I. 138 There is eloquence in the tongueless wind.
1868 J. H. Newman Verses Var. Occasions 9 I cannot bear those sullen walls, Those eyeless towers, those tongueless halls.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > keeping from knowledge > keeping from publication > [adjective]
unawnedc1175
unconfesseda1500
unpresented1523
undeclared1526
unrevealed1529
unproclaimed1570
undisclosed1571
unbetrayed1595
mystical1600
unbewrayed1605
undivulged1608
unpublished1608
irrevealed1610
tonguelessa1616
undiscovereda1616
unaffirmeda1631
unprofessed1647
unphrased1663
in poigne1710
napkined1756
unavowed1790
unsignified1809
unsunned1814
expressionless1819
inexpressed1821
unindicated1825
unblazoned1830
inostensible1843
unjournalized1843
unaverred1850
unexhibited1862
unadvertised1864
hermetic1954
a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) i. ii. 94 One good deed, dying tonguelesse, Slaughters a thousand, wayting vpon that. View more context for this quotation
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.1398