silent Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite marked by absence of sound
    still; soundless.
    • a silent house
    • soundless footsteps on the grass
    • the night was still
  2. adjective satellite failing to speak or communicate etc when expected to
    mum.
    • the witness remained silent
  3. adjective satellite implied by or inferred from actions or statements
    understood; tacit.
    • gave silent consent
    • a tacit agreement
    • the understood provisos of a custody agreement
  4. adjective satellite not made to sound
    unsounded.
    • the silent `h' at the beginning of `honor'
    • in French certain letters are often unsounded
  5. adjective satellite having a frequency below or above the range of human audibility
    • a silent dog whistle
  6. adjective satellite unable to speak because of hereditary deafness
    dumb; mute.

WordNet

Si"lent adjective
Etymology
L. silens, -entis, p. pr. of silere to be silent; akin to Goth. ana-silan.
Definitions
  1. Free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet.
    How silent is this town! Shak.
  2. Not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn; not loquacious; not talkative.
    Ulysses, adds he, was the most eloquent and most silent of men. Broome.
    This new-created world, whereof in hell Fame is not silent. Milton.
  3. Keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed; as, the wind is silent. Parnell. Sir W. Raleigh.
  4. (Pron.) Not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent; as, e is silent in "fable."
  5. Having no effect; not operating; inefficient. R.
    Cause . . . silent, virtueless, and dead. Sir W. Raleigh.
    Syn. -- Mute; taciturn; dumb; speechless; quiet; still. See Mute, and Taciturn.
Si"lent noun
Definitions
  1. That which is silent; a time of silence. R. "The silent of the night." Shak.

Webster 1913