sileo Latin · revision 30704

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *sh₁i-ló-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈsɪ.ɫe.oː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈsiː.le.o]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''sileō''' (present infinitive silēre, perfect active siluī); second conjugation, no supine stem, third person-only in the passive^(Wiktionary)

+ Augustine has a perfect passive ''silitum est''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*silē-|t=to be quiet]], a stative verb beside an adjective [[m|itc-pro|*silo-|t=quiet, silent]], [[inh|ine-pro|*sh₁i-ló-|t=silent]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Cognate with [[got|𐌰𐌽𐌰𐍃𐌹𐌻𐌰𐌽|tr=anasilan|t=to become quiet]] (of the wind dropping) and [[ang|sālnes|t=silence]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Walde–Hofmann and Ernout–Meillet thought the first meaning was “to come to rest”, and Walde–Hofmann and Pokorny linked it with [[m|la|sinō|t=to let]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The prologue of Plautus' ''Poenulus'', quoting or parodying Ennius: ''silēte et tacēte atque animum advortite'', “be silent, keep quiet and pay attention”.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is to make no sound, and is used of night and of still weather (Virgil's ''intempesta silet nox'', “the dead of night is silent”).^(OLD 2012) Of people it is not to speak, or to say nothing in writing, and transitively to keep something quiet or pass it over in silence (Virgil: nor will I say nothing of you, young man).^(OLD 2012) It also means keeping silent under provocation, and, of things, being at rest or inactive.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Döderlein distinguishes ''silēre'', to be still as opposed to making noise, from [[taceō]], to be silent as opposed to speaking.^(Döderlein 1874) Church Latin glosses it “be silent, hold one's peace”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''silēte et tacēte''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of keeping silent about politics.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil of the silent night.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make no sound, be [[m|en|silent]], be still.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Not to speak; to keep [[m|en|silence]].^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(transitive)'' To say nothing of, pass over in silence; to keep secret.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To be at rest, be inactive.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[silentium]]

+ * [[silentus]]

+ * [[silēscō]]

+ * [[silēns]]

+ * [[silenter]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[silentiārius]]

+ * [[silentiōsē]]

+ * [[silentiōsus]]

+ * [[taceō]]

+ * [[sinō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}