silence
[sahy-luh ns]
- absence of any sound or noise; stillness.
- the state or fact of being silent; muteness.
- absence or omission of mention, comment, or expressed concern: the conspicuous silence of our newspapers on local graft.
- the state of being forgotten; oblivion: in the news again after years of silence.
- concealment; secrecy.
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- to put or bring to silence; still.
- to put (doubts, fears, etc.) to rest; quiet.
- Military. to still (enemy guns), as by more effective fire.
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- be silent! “Silence!” the teacher shouted.
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Origin of silence
Synonyms
See more synonyms for silence on Thesaurus.com6. hush, quell, muzzle, gag.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for silenced
Contemporary Examples
When I think of the many rape victims who never come forward, who have been silenced in the same fashion, I am saddened.
Bowman did not immediately report to the police because she felt as though she would be re-victimized and silenced.
The assault on Clinton backfired, but it silenced her for much of the fall campaign.
Last month, the Kremlin silenced many of the last remaining critical news outlets in the country.
“Impossible,” began the other, but was silenced by a sort of bark from Mr. Wilde.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the ShowRobert W. Chambers
February 20, 2014
Historical Examples
"Not him, but yourself, brother," said Alexander; and Gilbert was silenced.
Cameos from English History, from Rollo to Edward IICharlotte Mary Yonge
To this there was no reply; and they hated her the more for their having been silenced by her shrewdness.
Tales And Novels, Volume 4 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
Cooper had a little row with this boarding officer, but was silenced by the captain.
Ned MyersJames Fenimore Cooper
He retired at last, silenced by Nelson's authority, but not convinced.
The Life of Horatio Lord NelsonRobert Southey
When the sentence was read, he attempted to speak, but was silenced.
The Works of Whittier, Volume VI (of VII)John Greenleaf Whittier
silenced
- (of a clergyman) forbidden to preach or perform his clerical functionsa silenced priest
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silence
- the state or quality of being silent
- the absence of sound or noise; stillness
- refusal or failure to speak, communicate, etc, when expectedhis silence on the subject of their promotion was alarming
- a period of time without noise
- oblivion or obscurity
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- to bring to silence
- to put a stop to; extinguishto silence all complaint
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Word Origin
C13: via Old French from Latin silēntium, from silēre to be quiet. See silent
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for silenced
silence
n.
c.1200, "muteness, state of being silent," from Old French silence "state of being silent; absence of sound," from Latin silentium "a being silent," from silens, present participle of silere "be quiet or still," of unknown origin. Meaning "absence of sound" in English is from late 14c.
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silence
v.
1560s, intransitive, "become still or silent;" 1590s, transitive, "make silent," from silence (n.). Related: Silenced; silencing.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper