taciturn
[tas-i-turn]
- inclined to silence; reserved in speech; reluctant to join in conversation.
- dour, stern, and silent in expression and manner.
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Origin of taciturn
1765–75; < Latin taciturnus, quiet, maintaining silence, equivalent to tacit(us) silent (see tacit) + -urnus adj. suffix of time
Synonyms
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
reticentaloofdourlaconicantisocialclosecoldcurtdistantdumbmummutequietreservedsententioussilentsparingspeechlesstight-lippedwithdrawnExamples from the Web for taciturn
Contemporary Examples
No one would confuse him the taciturn, forgetful and vengeful Senate Majority Leader.
Tall and taciturn, he exuded the easy authority of a young man used to money and the deference that came with it.
Doug Kenney: The Odd Comic Genius Behind ‘Animal House’ and National LampoonRobert Sam Anson
March 1, 2014
The exuberant, indefatigable Democrat from Oregon and the dour, taciturn Republican from New Hampshire made an odd couple.
But he was also taciturn, rarely betraying his inner thoughts, his friends have said.
Moon Men: The Private Lives of Neil Armstrong and Pals in “Togethersville”Lily Koppel
September 1, 2012
I became irrational and flunked the tough-guy test, the show-me-the-evidence test, the taciturn Gary Cooper test.
Historical Examples
She was as taciturn as ever, speaking scarcely a half-dozen words.
The Rock of ChickamaugaJoseph A. Altsheler
But you know what Mr Merdle is; you know how taciturn and reserved he is.
Little DorritCharles Dickens
Janzen, for his part, was as taciturn as his friend Bache was garrulous.
The Three Cities Trilogy, CompleteEmile Zola
I know just what sort of a person he is—sombre and taciturn.
A Woman IntervenesRobert Barr
Meg, white-faced and taciturn, went back to Wren's End on Tuesday night.
Jan and Her JobL. Allen Harker
taciturn
- habitually silent, reserved, or uncommunicative; not inclined to conversation
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Word Origin
C18: from Latin taciturnus, from tacitus silent, from tacēre to be 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 taciturn
adj.
"habitually silent," 1771, back-formation from taciturnity.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper