silent English · revision 5096

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1500|origins=la silens}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈsaɪ.lənt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[la|silēns|t=still, calm, quiet]], present participle of silēre “to be quiet or still”.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) MWU relates the Latin verb to Gothic anasilan “to subside” and Latin sinere “to let go”.^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[silence]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Not speaking: about 1500 in Etymonline, the late 15th century in the New Oxford, 1565 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Free from noise or sound is from the 1580s,^(Etymonline) and of actions made without speech from 1592.^(OED 1989) Of writers or books omitting mention of something it is from 1601.^(OED 1989) Of letters not pronounced it is from about 1600 (1605 in the OED),^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and in the looser sense “of few words” by 1840.^(Etymonline) ''Silent as the grave'' is from 1823.^(OED 1989) The ''strong, silent type'' is attested from 1905.^(Etymonline) ''Silent majority'' was at first a name for the dead, and in the 20th century came to mean people with moderate views who rarely voice them, brought to prominence by Richard Nixon in his 1968 presidential campaign.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1500 – not speaking.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1580s – free from noise.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1605 – of letters, not pronounced.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1823 – ''silent as the grave''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1840 – of few words.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Without any sound; quiet.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Not speaking, or not tending to speak much.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Not expressed aloud: ''silent prayer''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of a letter, written but not [[pronounce]]d.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of a film, having no soundtrack.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A silent film.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[silently]]

+ * [[silentness]]

+ * [[oversilent]]

+ * [[unsilent]]

+ * [[silent alarm]]

+ * [[silent auction]]

+ * [[silent butler]]

+ * [[silent majority]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[silence]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Silent, reticent, reserved, taciturn and secretive all describe people who say little, and silent often implies a habitual unwillingness to speak or a refusal to speak in a particular situation.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}