silence English · revision 5059
16 Oct 2026, 01:31 by bogdan “en10k b0186: egg … wash” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=a. 1225|origins=la silentium}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA: /ˈsaɪ.ləns/^(Roach et al. 2011)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is [[inh|enm|silence]], [[bor|fro|silence]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|silentium|t=a being silent]], from silēns, present participle of silēre “to be quiet or still”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) a word of unknown origin according to Etymonline.^(Etymonline) Barnhart relates it to Gothic anasilan “to calm down”.^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[silent]].^(Cresswell 2021)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ Keeping silent, refraining from speech: before 1225 in the OED, about 1200 in Etymonline, in the Ancrene Riwle according to Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ The absence of all sound is from 1382 in the OED, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) A vow of silence in a religious order is from 1387,^(OED 1989) and the absence of mention, as of a writer, from the 1570s.^(Etymonline) As an imperative, “Silence!”, it is from 1590.^(OED 1989) The verb, to become silent, is from 1560, and to make silent from the 1590s (1598 in MWU).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) ''Silence is golden'' is Carlyle's translation of a German proverb in 1831.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * a. 1225 – not speaking.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1382 – absence of sound.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1560 – verb, to become silent.^(Barnhart 1988)
+ * 1598 – to make silent.^(MWU 2024)
+ * 1831 – ''silence is golden''.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Noun===
+ # Complete absence of sound.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # The state of not speaking.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # A period without speech or noise.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # Refusal to talk about something or reveal information.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+
+ ===Verb===
+ # To make someone stop speaking or making a noise.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # To stop someone from expressing opinions; to [[suppress]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[silencer]]
+ * [[cone of silence]]
+ * [[conspiracy of silence]]
+ * [[tower of silence]]
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[silent]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}