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hush

[huhsh]
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interjection
  1. (used as a command to be silent or quiet.)
verb (used without object)
  1. to become or be silent or quiet: They hushed as the judge walked in.
verb (used with object)
  1. to make silent; silence.
  2. to suppress mention of; keep concealed (often followed by up): They hushed up the scandal.
  3. to calm, quiet, or allay: to hush someone's fears.
noun
  1. silence or quiet, especially after noise.
  2. Phonetics. either of the sibilant sounds (sh) and (zh).
adjective
  1. Archaic. silent; quiet.

Origin of hush

1350–1400; apparently back formation from husht whist2 (Middle English huissht), the -t being taken for past participle suffix
Related formshush·ed·ly [huhsh-id-lee, huhsht-lee] /ˈhʌʃ ɪd li, ˈhʌʃt li/, adverbhush·ful, adjectivehush·ful·ly, adverbun·hush·ing, adjective

Synonyms

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6. peace, stillness, tranquillity.

Synonym study

2, 3. See still1.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for hush up

hush up

verb
  1. (tr, adverb) to suppress information or rumours about

hush1

verb
  1. to make or become silent; quieten
  2. to soothe or be soothed
noun
  1. stillness; silence
  2. an act of hushing
interjection
  1. a plea or demand for silence
Derived Formshushed, adjective

Word Origin

C16: probably from earlier husht quiet!, the -t being thought to indicate a past participle

hush2

verb (tr)
  1. to run water over the ground to erode (surface soil), revealing the underlying strata and any valuable minerals present
  2. to wash (an ore) by removing particles of earth with rushing water
noun
  1. a gush of water, esp when artificially produced

Word Origin

C18: of imitative origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for hush up

hush

v.

1540s, variant of Middle English huisht (late 14c.), probably of imitative origin, with terminal -t lost probably by being mistaken for a past tense suffix. Hush-hush (adj.) is 1916 reduplication. Related: Hushed; hushing. The noun is attested from 1680s. As an interjection meaning "be quiet," attested by c.1600. To hush (one's) mouth "be quiet" is attested from 1878. Hush up "suppress talk for secrecy's sake" is from 1630s. Hush-money is attested from 1709. Hush-puppy "deep-fried ball of cornmeal batter" first attested 1899; as a type of lightweight soft shoe, it is a proprietary name, registered 1961.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with hush up

hush up

Keep from public knowledge, suppress mention of. For example, They tried to hush up the damaging details. [First half of 1600s]

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.