单词 | silence |
释义 | silencen.int. A. n. 1. a. The fact, state, or habit of abstaining or refraining from speaking (sometimes with reference to a particular matter) or other utterance; the fact of keeping silent; an act or instance of this.radio silence, wireless silence: see the first element. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > [noun] stillnessc1050 silencea1225 seld-speech?c1225 taciturnityc1450 retreata1533 mum1555 silentness1573 reticence1603 reticencya1617 reservation1619 parciloquy1656 reserve1659 costiveness1792 incommunicativeness1815 mutism1824 incommunicableness1835 ineloquence1843 incommunicability1855 unspeaking1860 mumchanceness1910 mumchanciness1920 a1225 ( Rule St. Benet (Winteney) (1888) vi. 29 heading Her hit specð embe swiȝe, þat is, embe silence [OE Corpus Cambr. Be swigan]. c1350 Apocalypse St. John: A Version (Harl. 874) (1961) 59 (MED) As þe aungel opened þe seuenþe claspe, silence is made in heuene. c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Deeds xix. 33 Forsothe Alisaundre, silence axid with the hond, wolde ȝelde resoun to the peple. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Melibeus (Hengwrt) (2003) §121 Ye han ful ofte assayed my grete silence..and eek how wel þt I kan hiden & hele thynges. 1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) ii. iii. 38 And oftetymes they selle as welle theyr scilence, as theyr vtterance. c1500 (?a1475) Assembly of Gods (1896) l. 44 Then was there made a proclamasion, In Plutoys name commaundyd silence. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Job xxix. 21 Vnto me men gaue eare,..& with sylence they taried for my councell. 1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 ii. ii. 154 No worde to your master that I am yet come to towne; theres for your silence . View more context for this quotation a1668 W. Davenant News from Plimouth iv, in Wks. (1673) 31/2 Silence becomes Men best, when Women talk. 1720 J. Ozell et al. tr. R. A. de Vertot Hist. Revol. Rom. Republic I. iii. 157 The People intimidated, kept in a profound Silence for some Time. 1782 W. Cowper Retirement in Poems 279 The tongue..Shall own itself a stamm'rer in that cause, Or plead its silence as its best applause. 1847 R. W. Emerson Poems 154 Ye taught my lips a single speech, And a thousand silences. 1874 F. W. Farrar Silence & Voices of God ii. 29 What is called the silence of ignorance may sometimes be the silence of repudiation, sometimes even the reticence of scorn. 1944 G. Heyer Friday's Child (1960) xxv. 324 He had been obliged to tramp three miles down miry lanes beside a lady who maintained a stony silence throughout the trudge. 2018 M. Hanna-Attisha What Eyes don't See viii. 103 Elliott was silent, the kind of silence that meant his heart was breaking. b. The renunciation of speech as chosen or vowed by the members of certain religious or monastic orders; a period during which the members of a community or retreat renounce speech. Frequently in the rule of silence.Recorded earliest as a modifier in silence time (see Compounds 1a).Cf. vow of silence n. at Phrases 7. ΘΚΠ society > faith > church government > monasticism > [noun] > renunciation of speech the rule of silencea1387 a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 19 Speke wolde he nevere, as it is i-write in þe questiouns þat he wroot in his scilence tyme [L. silendo scripsit]. 1435 in J. F. South & D. Power Memorials Craft of Surg. (1886) App. 318 (MED) The seid felowschip..in her complayntis & seyngis honestli to be mesurable and to scielence mekeli to obeie. 1627 R. S. tr. V. Cepari Life Gonzaga ii. xiv. 256 He was neuer discouered to vtter so much as one word to any one, were he domesticall or stranger. So obseruant was he of the rule of silence. 1884 W. E. Addis & T. Arnold Catholic Dict. 804/1 Probably the most trying part of all the discipline is the silence, no monk being allowed to speak to his brother on any occasion. 1957 P. L. Fermor Time to keep Silence 67 There is a special dispensation from the rule of silence for the monks who deal with the abbey livestock when they are actually addressing their dumb charges. 1978 Oxf. Diocesan Mag. Dec. 17/1 Then there was the two days' retreat... At no time..was the sense of fellowship more apparent than during the silence. 2009 P. Gray & L. Ridout Rough Guide Thailand 333 Disciplined Vipassana courses (with a rule of silence, no food after noon and so on), taught by Thai monks with translators. c. Music. A break in the playing or singing of a particular part during a piece of music. ΚΠ c1570 Art of Music (BL Add. 4911) f. 1v in J. D. Maynard Anonymous Sc. Treat. on Music (Ph.D. thesis, Indiana Univ.) (1961) II. 2 Ane figur, as Franchinus sayis, is ane representation of a rycht and amittit voce quhilk beand of a rycht voce dois schew the figuris and the nottis with a certain mesur singaball and pronunciabill, the amittit voce surlye with sylence and pausis is declarit. 1737 tr. J.-P. Rameau Treat. Music xliv. 175 This Silence [Fr. silence] or Rest can be made but upon a Concord or consonant Note. 1992 PMLA 107 470/1 Amid the whole orchestra, playing its softest, the horns fall silent...But the silence is unmistakably an expressive gesture as well. 2. a. The state or condition when nothing is audible; complete quietness or stillness; an absence of all sound or noise.In early use also more broadly: peacefulness, tranquillity; absence of agitation or disturbance. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > inaudibility > [noun] > silence stillnessc1050 silence?c1225 clum1340 stillhead1340 quiet?c1450 whust1558 husht1566 muteness1590 silency1595 still1608 hushtness1609 whistness1609 silentness1664 noiselessness1834 soundlessness1834 non-speech1863 shush1954 deafening silence1968 ciunas1986 ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 314 Alswa efter þe ancres complie oðet prime, ne don nan þing ne seggen hwar þurch hire silence muȝe beon to sturbed. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Isa. viii. 6 The watris of Siloe, that gon with cilence [L. silentio]. c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) v. l. 1064 (MED) Mordre gladly is wrouȝt in silence Or men aduerte or taken any kepe. a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 114 Lucina schyning in silence of the nycht. 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. i. sig. Cc5 Whenas all the world in silence deepe Yshrowded was. 1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet ii. ii. 487 But as we often see against some storme, A silence in the heauens. View more context for this quotation 1645 J. Milton Upon Circumcision in Poems 21 Through the soft silence of the list'ning night. 1785 W. Cowper Task vi. 84 Stillness, accompanied with sounds so soft, Charms more than silence. 1833 T. B. Macaulay Armada in Friendship's Offering 19 Then bugle's note and cannon's roar the deathlike silence broke. 1931 Chillicothe (Missouri) Constit. 19 Mar. 1/3 An ominous silence hung today over the riot torn model prison at Statesville and rebellious convicts went unfed. 2001 T. Winton Dirt Music (2003) 416 A solitary groan issued from the silence. b. Used allusively to refer to the state of being dead. Cf. Phrases 4b(b). ΘΚΠ the world > life > death > [noun] > state or condition of deathOE homeOE restOE sleepOE powderc1300 corruptiona1340 gravec1380 darkness1535 silence1535 tomb1559 iron sleep1573 another country1597 iron slumber1604 deadness1607 deadlihead1612 deadlihood1659 nothingness1813 unlivingness1914 post-mortemity1922 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms cxv. C The deed prayse not the (o Lorde) nether all they that go downe in to sylence. 1807 W. Wordsworth Ode in Poems II. 156 Cherish us, and make Our noisy years seem moments in the being Of the eternal Silence. 1851 T. Carlyle Life J. Sterling i. i. 7 To return silently, with his small, sorely foiled bit of work, to the Supreme Silences. 1908 E. Miller Martyrs of Moors 55 In fear and darkness his soul floated out to the great Silence. 2004 Salmagundi Winter 94 Before the final silence, we often end our existence with the word. c. A short period of communal silence and stillness, observed as a public mark of respect for a person or group of people who have died; spec. the two minutes' silence held in many Commonwealth countries at 11 a.m. on Armistice Day or (since 1946) Remembrance Sunday. Frequently with modifying word specifying the length of the pause, as in minute's silence or two minutes' silence (also two-minute silence). Cf. moment of silence n. at moment n. 1f. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > memory > reminder, putting in mind > commemoration, remembrance > [noun] > solemn or religious remembrance minda1325 obsequyc1385 wreath-laying1888 Remembrance Day1895 Veterans Day1912 silence1919 Poppy Day1921 Remembrance Sunday1925 moment of silence1942 1919 Times 28 Apr. 9/2 The address was followed by a minute's silence, which the audience was invited to spend in reflection upon the dead. 1919 Times 7 Nov. 12/1 Shopkeepers and their customers will, it is hoped, agree to a pause during the two minutes' silence. People in the streets can cooperate by simply standing still. 1926 A. Topham Chron. Prussian Court xx. 245 We discussed among other things the Titanic disaster which had recently happened, and I remember referring to ‘the silence’ of two minutes by which the Canadian railways and churches had honoured the memory of the Canadians who had perished. 1946 Daily Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) 11 Nov. 16/1 Conclusion of the Silence was marked by the Last Post by the bugles of the Jamaica Battalion. 1972 ‘E. Lathen’ Murder without Icing (1973) xxii. 188 The game was preceded by a two-minute silence in memory of Billy Sicagusa. 1985 New Direct. 49 32 She forgot to observe the silence in memory of John Lennon's death that past Sunday. 2012 Daily Post (Nexis) 12 Nov. 5 During the silence, I remembered all those Welsh men and women who have given their lives..in the service of our country. 3. a. Omission or avoidance of mention or discussion of a particular topic, esp. one that is shocking, distressing, sensitive, or controversial; failure or refusal to give a statement, opinion, or reply regarding an issue. Also: the fact of not being mentioned or recorded. With reference to speech and writing.See also deafening silence n. at deafening adj. 1b. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > [noun] > omission of mention silencea1513 the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > ignoring, disregard > [noun] > passing over, omission > in a narrative silencea1513 pretermission1704 the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > ignoring, disregard > [noun] > passing over, omission > in writing silence1525 a1513 H. Bradshaw Lyfe St. Werburge (1521) i. i. sig. a.iiii It were no reason, her name be had in scylence But to the people her name be magnyfyed. 1525 R. Whitford tr. St. Augustine Rule sig. c.j You ben more noyouse & greter enemyes vnto those offenders (sythe ye myght in shewyng theyr defaute correcte & refourme your felowes) than ye be whan (by your sylence [L. tacendo]) you suffre them to perysshe. 1617 F. Moryson Itinerary ii. 206 By Don Jeans silence from Spaine, this overture..tooke no effect as long as the Queene lived. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 385 Strength from Truth divided..to glorie aspires Vain glorious, and through infamie seeks fame: Therfore Eternal silence be thir doome. View more context for this quotation 1698 tr. F. Froger Relation Voy. Coasts Afr. sig. Aj The silence of all those who made the voyage with me, constrained me to expose it to publick view. 1771 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. liv. 227 I understand that the public are not satisfied with my silence;—that an answer is expected from me. 1790 W. Paley Horæ Paulinæ ii. i. 9 The silence of the historian..concerning any contribution, might lead us to look out for some different journey. 1854 W. Maccall tr. B. Spinoza Treat. Politics viii. 83 The matter must be taken up as an accusation by him who presides over the supreme court of justice, or in the case of his silence, by any one of the Patricians who is so disposed, and who must demand the reason of the silence from the president of the Syndics, as well as from those of the senate and of the judges. 1968 H. G. Koenigsberger in R. B. Wernham Counter-reformation & Price Revol., 1559–1610 (1990) 252 Philip's own captain-general..was in despair at the silence from Madrid. 2014 ‘R. Galbraith’ Silkworm (2015) x. 98 While he would have found it distasteful showboating if Strike had held forth about his experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq.., his silence on these subjects had been almost more irritating. b. The fact or action of refraining from communicating in writing, esp. by neglecting to respond to a letter, message, etc. In later use also: the fact or action of not writing or publishing one’s writing for a period of time. ΚΠ a1555 J. Careless in M. Coverdale Certain Lett. Martyrs (1564) 617 Lest by my to long silence, my great ingratitude for your loue and godly letters, shuld to muche appeare, I haue here in haste scribled these fewe wordes vnto you. 1626 S. D'Ewes Let. 6 July in Autobiogr. & Corr. (1845) II. 187 Perhaps you will wonder, and not unjustlie, at my long silence. 1746 E. Burke Let. May in Leadbeater Papers (1862) II. 78 I heartily wish for your recovery and forgive your silence, but methinks you might have employed some friend to give me an account of it. 1814 J. Brown Let. 6 July in H. A. Fay Coll. Official Accts. Battles between U.S. & Great Brit., 1812–15 (1817) 209 Sir—Excuse my silence—I have been much engaged. 1838 E. Bulwer-Lytton Alice III. xx. ii. 166 One day, after a prolonged silence from Vargrave, whose letters all breathed comfort and assurance..his messenger returned from the post-town with a letter in the hand of De Montaigne. 1994 Guardian (Nexis) 18 Feb. 20 And so began, in the mid-1930s, the long inexplicable silence... This was not, he [sc. Henry Roth] insists, writer's block. 2016 www.bookwormroom.com 25 Nov. (blog, accessed 7 Feb. 2020) My apologies for my silence over the past 24 hours. The fact is that I find myself without much to say today. ΘΚΠ society > authority > office > symbol of office or authority > [noun] > hammer to command silence or order silence1556 gavel1848 society > communication > indication > signalling > audible signalling > signalling with other sounding instruments > [noun] > small hammer, gavel, etc. silence1556 hammer1717 1556 in E. B. Jupp & W. W. Pocock Hist. Acct. Worshipful Company of Carpenters (1887) 139 He helde not his peess before the master hade knockyd with the sylence iij tymes. 5. Frequently with capital initial. Absence of speech or sound personified. ΚΠ 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 604 The wakeful Nightingale..all night long her amorous descant sung; Silence was pleas'd. View more context for this quotation 1816 P. B. Shelley Alastor 5 And Silence, too enamoured of that voice, Locks its mute music in her rugged cell. a1875 G. M. Hopkins Poems (1967) 31 Elected Silence, sing to me. 2012 Poetry (Chicago) July 334 Silence is dead. (Long live silence.) ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > insipidity > [noun] wearishnessa1398 unsavouriness1422 tastelessness1600 flashinessa1603 wallowishness1603 insipidity1611 insipidnessa1631 deadness1707 flatness1707 mawkishness1727 walshness1808 ditchwateriness1840 savourlessness1841 blandness1846 silence1879 the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > distilled drink > [noun] > lack of flavour in silence1879 1879 Spons' Encycl. Manuf. I. 229 Owing to its ‘silence’, there is no possibility of detecting afterwards from what source it has been obtained. 7. Molecular Biology. Absence or reduction of the expression of a gene or genetic material, occurring either as a natural process or as a result of genetic engineering. Cf. silent adj. 7b. ΚΠ 1967 Sci. Amer. Apr. 32/2 The silence of these genes..could be attributed to failure either of transcription of the DNA of the gene into messenger RNA or of translation of the messenger RNA into protein. 1984 Proc. National Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 81 2806/2 The HPRT locus is extraordinarily useful for exploring the role of DNA methylation in maintaining the silence of the inactive X chromosome. 2013 D. R. Prothero Bringing Fossils to Life v. 100/2 A small mutation in a regulatory gene can make a radical change in the expression or silence of a whole string of structural genes that it controls. B. int. Used as a command to a person or group: ‘be quiet’; ‘don't make any noise’. Cf. quiet int. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > inaudibility > be silent [interjection] silence?c1225 peacec1390 whista1425 softlya1500 softc1500 husht1532 ist1540 st1552 soft and peace1576 pocas palabras1592 isse1598 hist1599 whish1635 whisht1684 quiet1814 fusht1816 pax1843 sh1847 pst1863 ciunas1987 ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 56 Silence eauer [ed] mete. 1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream v. i. 256 But silence: here comes Thisby. View more context for this quotation 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vii. 216 Silence, ye troubl'd waves, and thou Deep, peace. View more context for this quotation 1729 A. Pope Dunciad (new ed.) iii. 159 Silence, ye Wolves! while Ralph to Cynthia howls. a1822 P. B. Shelley Cyclops in Posthumous Poems (1824) 349 Silence now! Ye know the close device. 1873 J. A. Symonds Stud. Greek Poets vii. 225 Silence! Hush! what noise was this? 2003 Dayton (Ohio) Daily News (Nexis) 29 Mar. a13 The auditorium door burst open and Miss Clark stalked into the room. ‘Silence!’ she roared. Phrases P1. to keep (one's) silence (also to hold (one's) silence): to refrain from speaking; to refrain from discussing or remarking on a specific matter. [Compare Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French faire silence (c1210).] ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > be silent/refrain from speaking [verb (intransitive)] to hold one's tonguec897 to keep one's tonguec897 to be (hold oneself) stilla1000 to say littleOE to hold one's mouthc1175 to shut (also close) one's mouthc1175 to keep (one's) silence?c1225 to hold (also have, keep) one's peacea1275 stillc1330 peacec1395 mum1440 to say neither buff nor baff1481 to keep (also play) mum1532 to charm the tonguec1540 to have (also set, keep) a hatch before the door1546 hush1548 to play (at) mumbudgeta1564 not to say buff to a wolf's shadow1590 to keep a still tongue in one's head1729 to sing small1738 to sew up1785 let that fly stick in (or to) the wall1814 to say (also know) neither buff nor stye1824 to choke back1844 mumchance1854 to keep one's trap shut1899 to choke up1907 to belt up1949 to keep (or stay) shtum1958 shtum1958 ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 20 From ouwer compelin oðet Preciosa beo iseid. haldeð silence. c1300 St. Brendan (Laud) l. 324 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 228 Hov holde ȝe so silence þat neuer on ne spekez with oþur? c1480 (a1400) St. Ninian 336 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 313 As þai come til his presence, he gert þe puple kepe scilence. c1500 (a1473) Syon Additions Sisters (Arundel) in J. Hogg Rewyll Seynt Sauioure (1980) IV. liii. 176 All schal there kepe hygh silence. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. xviij He required him that his aduersaries might kepe silence. 1782 J. Priestley Hist. Corruptions Christianity II. ix. 211 They kept a strict silence all the week. 1819 P. B. Shelley Cenci iv. iv. 74 He keeps firm silence; but these lines found on him May speak. 1944 A. Thirkell Headmistress (1996) xiii. 336 Mr. Belton..was in that state of letting off steam that he would have taken the whole Albert Hall into his confidence sooner than keep silence. 1949 Manch. Guardian 10 June 3/1 Miss Utley held her silence publicly until it seemed that there was no chance of his release. 2018 Manila Times (Nexis) 13 July The President said he would keep his silence from now on. P2. to break (the) silence. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > be silent/refrain from speaking [verb (intransitive)] > break the silence to break (the) silence?c1225 ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 254 Of gruchunge of grim chere of silence ibroken. 1442 in A. H. Thompson Visitations Relig. Houses Diocese Lincoln (1919) II. 52 Rede som seynts lyfe..to thentent to eschewe..brekyng of your sylence. a1500 Form of Confession (Nero A.iii) in W. Maskell Monumenta Ritualia Ecclesiae Anglicanae (1882) III. 302 (MED) Of all ydyll words that I haue spokyn, or sylence brokyn lesse or more, at vnconvenyent tyme and place with bretherne or seculers, etc., I aske god mercy. b. To begin to speak after refraining from speech for a considerable period of time, spec. to speak about or disclose something shocking, distressing, sensitive, or controversial for the first time after a period of refraining from discussing it. Often as to break one's silence. ΚΠ a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. l. 1302 Thus fulofte my silence I breke. 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. i. sig. B He [sc. Morpheus] mumbled soft, but would not all his silence breake. 1800 E. Hamilton Mem. Mod. Philosphers III. x. 227 By being delivered in presence of her friend, it [sc. the love-letter] laid her under the necessity of breaking the silence she had hitherto observed to Maria on the subject of Carradine's addresses. 1842 R. Browning Pied Piper of Hamelin in Bells & Pomegranates No. III: Dramatic Lyrics iv An hour they sate in council, At length the Mayor broke silence. 1927 Washington Post 3 Dec. 1/8 Gov. Alfred E. Smith of New York State tonight broke his silence on the prohibition question. 2006 Caribbean Rev. Bks. May 25/2 Nani..passes on, but not before breaking her silence to tell the story of her grandmother's journey from India. c. To utter something or make noise after a period of complete quiet. ΚΠ 1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Seuen First Bks. Eneidos i. sig. B.iiiv Whan they wer in, and licence had before the quene to speke, The gretest lord sir Ilionee, thus gan the silence breke. 1786 R. Burns Poems 63 He gaped wide, but naething spak, At length poor Mailie silence brak. 1908 Auckland Weekly News 17 Dec. 50/1 It is only occasionally that the silence is broken by the liquid notes of the tui and the bell-bird. 2019 Indian Express (Nexis) 27 Oct. The silence was broken by a few sniffs that would turn to sobs. P3. in silence: without speaking; without making any noise or sound. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > [adverb] in silencea1382 without language?c1450 sub silentio1563 monkishly1595 wordlessly1840 pauciloquently1844 speechlessly1847 taciturnly1847 reticently1859 incommunicativelya1862 a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1965) Eccles. x. 11 If þe edder bijte in scilense [L. in silentio]: no thing lasse þan he: haþ þat priuyly bacbiteþ. a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1869) I. 93 (MED) We shulden be tymes reste, and preye to God in scilence. c1475 Advice to Lovers in J. O. Halliwell Select. Minor Poems J. Lydgate (1840) 41 He kept the nyhte in peas and silence. 1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 566 In speech will I ever render thankes, and in silence acknowledge my selfe most deepely endebted. 1746 P. Francis tr. Horace in P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Epistles i. xvii. 75 But had the Crow his Food in Silence eat, Less had his Quarrels been. 1757 W. Wilkie Epigoniad vii. 192 Amaz'd we stood; in silence, each his mind To fear and hope alternately resign'd. 1827 in W. Scott Chron. Canongate Introd. App. The next toast..he wished to be drunk in solemn silence. 1947 A. Ransome Great Northern? viii. 111 The Sea Bear slipped on in silence towards the big white motor yacht. 2001 I. McEwan Atonement 214 They sat in silence on the hay bales smoking the first cigarette of the day. P4. a. to put silence to and variants: to refute, confound, or disprove completely; to defeat in argument; to prohibit or prevent from speaking. Now somewhat rare. [Originally after post-classical Latin silentium imponere (Vulgate).] ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > testing > refutation, disproof > refute, disprove [verb (transitive)] > completely to put silence toc1384 to put (a person or thing) to silencea1464 convell1536 silence1592 to reduce (a person or thing) to silence1605 explode1629 to fetch overa1640 out-argue1662 ruin1665 settle1849 scuttle1888 skyrocket1928 banjax1956 society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restrain [verb (transitive)] > reduce to silence by restraint to put silence toc1384 to put (a person or thing) to silencea1464 silence1553 the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > loss or lack of voice > deprive of voice [verb (transitive)] > put to silence to put silence toc1384 to stop (one's own or another's) mouthc1384 to put (a person or thing) to silencea1464 mumc1475 stillc1540 to button up (a person's) lip (also mouth)1601 obacerate1656 bouche1721 to shut up1814 to pipe down1926 to button (a person's) lip (also mouth)1968 the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > refrain from uttering [verb (transitive)] > silence or prevent from speaking > by prohibition to put silence toc1384 to put (a person or thing) to silencea1464 silence1553 c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. xxii. 34 Pharisees, heerynge that he hadde put silence to [L. silentium inposuisset] Saducees. 1496 in G. Neilson & H. Paton Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes (1918) II. 36 The saidis Lordis puttis cylence to the sade Maister David..in this mater..[under pain of] bannising. 1568 (a1508) W. Kennedy Flyting (Bannatyne) in Poems W. Dunbar (1998) I. 201 Heir I put sylence to the in all pairtis. 1677 A. Yarranton England's Improvem. 155 I know writing Books of Trade..puts a silence unto the whole History, be it never so good. 1690 W. S. Clear Declar. of Resurrection of Dead in Two. Disc. 177 From henceforth, Lord, I will put silence to this wicked Tongue of mine, which hath been so great an Instrument of Impiety. 1712 Spectator No. 450. I recover'd 15000 Pounds, which made me Amends for what she had idly squander'd, and put Silence to all my Neighbours. 2016 JonathanRod_7 11 Jan. in twitter.com (accessed 19 Nov. 2019) Well I hope this 4th title in 7 years puts silence to those disgruntled and invalid statements against this great program. b. to put (a person or thing) to silence. (a) To refute, confound, disprove (a person or a person's argument, opinion, remark, etc.) completely; to defeat in argument; to resolve (a matter); to prohibit or prevent from speaking. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > testing > refutation, disproof > refute, disprove [verb (transitive)] > completely to put silence toc1384 to put (a person or thing) to silencea1464 convell1536 silence1592 to reduce (a person or thing) to silence1605 explode1629 to fetch overa1640 out-argue1662 ruin1665 settle1849 scuttle1888 skyrocket1928 banjax1956 society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restrain [verb (transitive)] > reduce to silence by restraint to put silence toc1384 to put (a person or thing) to silencea1464 silence1553 the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > loss or lack of voice > deprive of voice [verb (transitive)] > put to silence to put silence toc1384 to stop (one's own or another's) mouthc1384 to put (a person or thing) to silencea1464 mumc1475 stillc1540 to button up (a person's) lip (also mouth)1601 obacerate1656 bouche1721 to shut up1814 to pipe down1926 to button (a person's) lip (also mouth)1968 the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > refrain from uttering [verb (transitive)] > silence or prevent from speaking > by prohibition to put silence toc1384 to put (a person or thing) to silencea1464 silence1553 a1464 J. Capgrave Abbreuiacion of Cron. (Cambr. Gg.4.12) (1983) 130 (MED) Withinne few dayes þe mater was put to silens. 1529 T. More Dyaloge Dyuers Maters i. vi. f.xiiiv/1 Ye haue put me to sylence that I dare not now be bolde to tell you that I haue seen yt my selfe. 1579 W. Wilkinson Confut. Familye of Loue Brief Descr. sig. iiijv Which wordes so often he repeated, that thereby he put Barry to silence. 1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius 254 Such force and dexterity, as may be able to putte your overthwart obstinacy to scilence. 1772 G. Buchanan's Paraphr. Psalms i. xxxi. 67 Let the tongue accustomed to lying, the tongue which used wantonly to provoke and pridefully slight good men, be put to silence. 1862 R. C. Trench Notes Miracles (ed. 7) xix. 326 He had put them to silence and to shame before all the people. 1879 M. J. Guest Lect. Hist. Eng. xlii. 424 Tyndale..would..sometimes put all the dignitaries to silence by his arguments. 1992 Paragraph 15 275 He puts them to silence with a single question. ΘΚΠ the world > life > death > killing > kill [verb (transitive)] swevec725 quelmeOE slayc893 quelleOE of-falleOE ofslayeOE aquellc950 ayeteeOE spillc950 beliveOE to bring (also do) of (one's) life-dayOE fordoa1000 forfarea1000 asweveOE drepeOE forleseOE martyrOE to do (also i-do, draw) of lifeOE bringc1175 off-quellc1175 quenchc1175 forswelta1225 adeadc1225 to bring of daysc1225 to do to deathc1225 to draw (a person) to deathc1225 murder?c1225 aslayc1275 forferec1275 to lay to ground, to earth (Sc. at eird)c1275 martyrc1300 strangle1303 destroya1325 misdoa1325 killc1330 tailc1330 to take the life of (also fro)c1330 enda1340 to kill to (into, unto) death1362 brittena1375 deadc1374 to ding to deathc1380 mortifya1382 perisha1387 to dight to death1393 colea1400 fella1400 kill out (away, down, up)a1400 to slay up or downa1400 swelta1400 voida1400 deliverc1400 starvec1425 jugylc1440 morta1450 to bring to, on, or upon (one's) bierc1480 to put offc1485 to-slaya1500 to make away with1502 to put (a person or thing) to silencec1503 rida1513 to put downa1525 to hang out of the way1528 dispatch?1529 strikea1535 occidea1538 to firk to death, (out) of lifec1540 to fling to deathc1540 extinct1548 to make out of the way1551 to fet offa1556 to cut offc1565 to make away?1566 occise1575 spoil1578 senda1586 to put away1588 exanimate1593 unmortalize1593 speed1594 unlive1594 execute1597 dislive1598 extinguish1598 to lay along1599 to make hence1605 conclude1606 kill off1607 disanimate1609 feeze1609 to smite, stab in, under the fifth rib1611 to kill dead1615 transporta1616 spatch1616 to take off1619 mactate1623 to make meat of1632 to turn up1642 inanimate1647 pop1649 enecate1657 cadaverate1658 expedite1678 to make dog's meat of1679 to make mincemeat of1709 sluice1749 finisha1753 royna1770 still1778 do1780 deaden1807 deathifyc1810 to lay out1829 cool1833 to use up1833 puckeroo1840 to rub out1840 cadaverize1841 to put under the sod1847 suicide1852 outkill1860 to fix1875 to put under1879 corpse1884 stiffen1888 tip1891 to do away with1899 to take out1900 stretch1902 red-light1906 huff1919 to knock rotten1919 skittle1919 liquidate1924 clip1927 to set over1931 creasea1935 ice1941 lose1942 to put to sleep1942 zap1942 hit1955 to take down1967 wax1968 trash1973 ace1975 c1503 R. Arnold Chron. sig. Avij The ij. sonnys of kinge Edward were put to silence. 1590 J. Smythe in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Lit. Men (1843) 60 My little Booke..shall be put to silence and abolished. a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) i. ii. 286 Murrellus and Flauius, for pulling Scarffes off Cæsars Images, are put to silence . View more context for this quotation P5. a. to let (something) pass in silence (also to let pass with silence): to let (a matter, comment, etc.) pass without being commented on or acknowledged; to allow to go unchallenged. ΚΠ a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. v. xlviii. 263 Þere I lete þis matere passe wiþ scilens. 1573 T. Twyne tr. H. Llwyd Breuiary of Britayne f. 10 And here I must not let passe with silence, that Bede the Englishman, Volaterranus, and Polydorus Italians, were shamfully ouerseene. 1709 T. Eccleston Remarks T. Andrews's Bk. 74 Yet in respect of the Truth we profess, we cannot let them pass in Silence, least that should continue under a Reproach through our neglect. 1858 Standard 15 Sept. 4/3 The successors of Usher and Taylor, and Berkeley, can afford to let insolence pass in silence. 2006 N.Y. Observer (Nexis) 9 Jan. (Culture section) 19 I don't ordinarily write mean reviews, especially of first novels. If this one hadn't come with impressive endorsements and publicity behind it, I would have let it pass in silence. b. to pass over (something) in silence (also to pass over with silence): (of a person, text, account, etc.) to omit or refrain from comment on or discussion of (a matter, remark, etc.). Also similarly to pass (something) in silence (also to pass something with silence). ΚΠ 1526 W. Tyndale Prol. Epist. Rom. sig. cijv I passe over wyth sylence howe wyth oute all frute ye wyth howe tereble ignoraunce the laye and vnlerned people saye the pater noster and also the crede in the latyne tonge. 1558 J. Knox Appellation f. 25v Shall yee be excused, if with silence yee passe ouer his iniquitie? 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 1. ¶3 As for the rest of my Infancy, there being nothing in it remarkable, I shall pass it over in Silence. 1852 Ann. Reg. 1851 235/2 I ought to pass with silence the events which, in spite of myself, have produced certain dissensions which will always be to be regretted. 1896 Documents & Corr. relating Question Boundary between Brit. Guiana & Venezuela App. ii. 438 Her Britannic Majesty's Government passes in silence the arguments which I submitted in support of the most just refusal of the Venezuelan Government. 1900 Rep. Brit. Assoc. Advancem. Sci. 1900 131 These ‘intermetallic’ compounds are still passed over in silence by..books on descriptive chemistry. 2003 Jrnl. Eng. & Germanic Philol. 102 213 If this were a marginal or arcane analysis, we could understand how modern scholars might pass over it in silence. P6. to suffer in silence: to endure hardship without complaint, comment, or objection. Also with an object specified: to endure (something undesirable or distressing) without complaint, comment, or objection. ΚΠ ?1555 Image of Idlenesse sig. F.v Yf she thynkyng hym to be the same that made the promes, shulde perceaue hym to profer further then was promysed, yet were she better to suffer in scilence, then to make any great noyse in the rescue. 1782 M. Wodhull tr. Euripides Helen in tr. Euripides 19 Trag. & Fragm. III. 328 His Sister will not suffer this in silence If you attempt aught 'gainst her Brother's life. 1889 Sat. Rev. 9 Feb. 145/2 A brave man suffers in silence. 2009 Independent 24 Nov. 24/3 Those who suffer in silence at the hands of unreasonable or vindictive management are at higher risk of dying of a heart attack. P7. vow of silence n. a vow to renounce speech, esp. taken by members of certain religious or monastic orders (cf. sense A. 1b); (in extended use) a promise or commitment not to disclose a secret, private information, etc. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > agreement > promise > [noun] > vow or oath > of particular type abjuration?a1439 professing1560 vow of silence1567 oath of allegiance1574 vow1600 affidation1612 abjuration1621 fetish1705 affidature1727 pledge of allegiance1750 abjuration of the realm1768 oath-parole1900 Guide's honour1912 1567 G. Fenton tr. M. Bandello Certaine Tragicall Disc. f. 250 The crueltie of Zilya in bindynge hym to a vowe of scilence for iij. yeres. a1674 Earl of Clarendon Ess. Active & Contempl. Life (1765) 77 They..hide themselves in monasteries and places of solitude; and make vows of silence. 1855 F. M. Sibthorpe Home is Home vii. 81 She mentally vowed a vow of silence upon all family secrets in future. 1977 Washington Post 1 Dec. a6/2 The spy..tried to secure a vow of silence from Gen. Kim. 2009 Music & Moving Image 2 1 The vow of silence, taken by some Christian orders or Buddhist monks,..is not only associated with the conservation of spiritual energy,..but also with the renunciation of all earthly distractions. P8. to reduce (a person or thing) to silence. a. To cause (a person, organization, etc.) to stop speaking or communicating; spec. to render (a person) speechless with emotion, shock, etc.; (also) to defeat (a person) completely in argument. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > testing > refutation, disproof > refute, disprove [verb (transitive)] > completely to put silence toc1384 to put (a person or thing) to silencea1464 convell1536 silence1592 to reduce (a person or thing) to silence1605 explode1629 to fetch overa1640 out-argue1662 ruin1665 settle1849 scuttle1888 skyrocket1928 banjax1956 the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > refrain from uttering [verb (transitive)] > silence or prevent from speaking to stop a person's mouthc1175 stilla1225 to keep ina1420 stifle1496 to knit up1530 to muzzle (up) the mouth1531 choke1533 muzzle?1542 to tie a person's tongue1544 tongue-tiea1555 silence1592 untongue1598 to reduce (a person or thing) to silence1605 to bite in1608 gaga1616 to swear downa1616 to laugh down1616 stifle1621 to cry down1623 unworda1627 clamour1646 splint1648 to take down1656 snap1677 stick1708 shut1809 to shut up1814 to cough down1823 to scrape down1855 to howl down1872 extinguish1878 hold1901 shout1924 to pipe down1926 1605 A. Munday tr. G. Affinati Dumbe Divine Speaker xiii. 147 Whosoeuer can reduce such tongues to perpetuall silence, it wil appeare in him to be a very great office of charity. 1688 J. La Placette Of Incurable Scepticism Church of Rome iii. 13 They would be reduced to silence, and not have one authority left to boast of. 1849 M. B. Smedley Maiden Aunt 37 The mixture of authority, gentleness, and resolution, could not have been better contrived to overwhelm me with shame and reduce me to silence. 1901 Jrnl. Pedagogy 13 97 The testimony of the pupils of Socrates was that he reduced them to silence. 2015 Sc. Daily Mail (Nexis) 31 Jan. 41 Another woman tries to ask a question but is reduced to silence by the emotion of it all. b. To disable (an enemy battery, gun, etc.), esp. through superior fire. Also more generally: to put (something noisy) out of action. ΚΠ 1793 Sun 27 May The French Batteries having commenced a very brisk fire, they were soon reduced to silence by the superior fire of the Allies. 1915 Bakersfield Californian 15 Jan. 2/2 German batteries were reduced to silence, two pieces of artillery were demolished, a depot of ammunition was exploded and field works in course of construction were destroyed. 2013 Lancaster Guardian (Nexis) 19 Dec. Wray Mill has been reduced to silence. Its doors are closed, its chimney is smokeless, its machinery is still. P9. Tower of Silence n. a squat, cylindrical structure on which Parsees place the bodies of the dead to decompose from exposure to the sun or be consumed by carrion birds; cf. dakhma n. [after French tour du silence (1799 in the passage translated in quot. 1800).] Towers of Silence have a hollow centre, with the surface on which the bodies are placed sloping down slightly from the upper edge of the tower towards a pit. Once a body has fully decomposed the bones are placed in an ossuary in or near the tower. The practice was made illegal in Iran in the 1970s but continues in India. ΘΚΠ the world > life > death > disposal of corpse > other means of disposal > [noun] > exposure > structure for scaffold1777 Tower of Silence1800 1800 tr. L.-P. Anquetil Summary Universal Hist. I. 239 The dead body is carried to the tower of silence [Fr. tour du silence], where it is devoured by birds of prey. 1920 Times of India 21 Apr. The Commissioner of Police has issued a direct warning to pilots of aeroplanes now flying in Bombay to avoid flying low over the Towers of Silence. 2001 C. Bird Neither East nor West 371 Just below the tower of silence was a small cemetery where today's Zoroastrians bury their dead, in cement-lined coffins that continue to prevent direct contact with the Earth. P10. Proverb. silence is golden: it is often wise to say nothing. Also more fully as speech is silver, silence is golden. [Ultimately after Arabic law kāna al-kalām min fiḍḍa, la-kāna al-sukūt min ḏahab (and variants) ‘if speech were made of silver, then silence would be of gold’ (9th cent. or earlier). Compare German Sprechen ist Silber, Schweigen Gold (late 18th cent. or earlier; also (and now more usually) Reden ist Silber, Schweigen ist Gold), which ultimately reflects the same Arabic proverb.] ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > taciturnity [phrase] > silence is golden silence is golden1832 1832 Fraser's Mag. May 390/1 Out of Silence comes thy strength. ‘Speech is silvern, Silence is golden; Speech is human, Silence is divine.’ 1935 M. V. Hughes Vivians vii. 138 ‘Did you tell him about that?’ ‘No, and I'm wondering whether I ought to?’ ‘I shouldn't if I were you. Silence is golden.’ 1980 J. McNeil Spy Game xxv. 239 ‘I'll tell you the rest..on the way back.’ He sealed her lips with a finger. ‘Meanwhile, silence is golden.’ 2009 San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News (Nexis) 30 June A passing fancy might catch your eye, but don't admit anything and upset an existing relationship. Remember: Silence is golden. P11. the rest is silence: used to indicate that there is nothing further to say on a matter.With allusion to the last words of the dying Hamlet (see quot. 1604). ΚΠ 1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet v. ii. 363 So tell him, with th'occurrants more and lesse Which have solicited, the rest is silence.] 1838 N.-Y. Mirror 27 Jan. 244/2 The rest is silence. I will merely add, We're daily getting into some ‘bad box’. 1982 Daily Tel. 2 June 16/4 In most of the countries involved the eternal tug-of-war between Government and news media has long since ended. The curtain has fallen. The rest is silence. 2018 Sc. Express (Nexis) 23 Jan. 21 Enter Nicola Sturgeon to deliver the final rhetorical blow. The rest is silence. P12. to shatter the silence: to make a sudden, loud noise after a period of complete quiet. Also: to speak about a sensitive topic that is not usually discussed openly. ΚΠ 1851 G. W. Curtis Nile Notes vi. 58 One sharp, fierce cackle of dispute suddenly shattered the silence like a tropical whirlwind. 1958 C. Achebe Things fall Apart xiii. 107 The cannon shattered the silence. 2018 Bowling Green State Univ. Newswire (Nexis) 16 Apr. 1 I talked about the need for shattering the silence around pregnancy loss and miscarriage. P13. silence gives consent: see consent n. 1c; conspiracy of silence: see conspiracy n. 2a; dome of silence: see dome n. 5e; to multiply silence: see multiply v. 2a. Compounds C1. a. As a modifier with the sense ‘characterized by or relating to silence or low levels of noise’. ΚΠ a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 19 Speke wolde he nevere, as it is i-write in þe questiouns þat he wroot in his scilence tyme [L. silendo scripsit]. c1500 (a1473) Syon Additions Sisters (Arundel) in J. Hogg Rewyll Seynt Sauioure (1980) IV. vii. 27 Eche suster..schall answer thus aȝene in lyke voyce thof it be silence tyme. 1894 Daily News 14 May 5/1 He promised the modification and virtually the abolition of the silence rule. 1958 S. Hyland Who goes Hang? xviii. 77 They were in the Silence Room of the Library, a room in which conversation..is..a tabu. 2012 Times of India (Nexis) 8 Feb. Common citizens want to protect silence zones to save them from blaring horns, ear-splitting music, loud public announcements and noisy scenes during elections. b. With present participles, forming adjectives in which silence expresses the object of the underlying verb, as in silence-breaking, silence-loving. ΚΠ 1625 W. Lisle tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Noe in tr. Part of Du Bartas 157 The silence-louing night and labour-guiding day. 1896 Washington Post 31 Aug. 4/7 While I drowsed there, on the night air, came a voice from out the Somewhere, penetrating, silence-breaking, shaking all my chamber floor. 2015 Scots Mag. Apr. 20/2 It says ‘cheep’ but it does so with a silence-stabbing potency. C2. silence box n. Australian, British, and Irish English (now rare) a booth containing a telephone for public use for a fee, situated inside a public building or railway station; cf. silence cabinet n. ΚΠ 1889 Telephone 15 Oct. 471/1 The public is also admitted to a silence-box at the Nottingham Post Office. 1894 Daily News 28 Mar. 3/1 These particulars are telephoned into a silence-box at the Central Savings Bank. 1933 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 18 Sept. 3/6 The Island's Fruitgrowers' Society requested the department to install a silence box, because of a lack of privacy. silence breaker n. a person who speaks or makes noise after a period of silence, or when others are silent; (now) esp. a person who speaks out publicly about something controversial, shocking, etc., that has not previously been disclosed or openly discussed; cf. Phrases 2.In early use not a fixed collocation. ΚΠ 1605 A. Munday tr. G. Affinati Dumbe Divine Speaker Table sig. Z4v Silence breakers, the first in heauen was Lucifer, and on earth it was our grandmother Eue. 1843 Boston Courier 8 May ‘Hush, hush!’ penetrated to the extreme corners of the court, and rung like thunder in the ears of daring silence-breakers. 1994 M. K. DeShazer Poetics of Resistance vii. 277 Marjorie Agosin has described Third World women as silence breakers, storytellers, global warriors for change. 2011 @DrPhil 13 June in twitter.com (accessed 14 Feb. 2020) Silence Breakers, it's time to make some noise! Sign the pledge & do ur part to end the silence on #domesticviolence. silence cabinet n. now historical (a) Australian, British, and Irish English a booth containing a telephone for public use for a fee, situated inside a public building or railway station; cf. silence box n.; (b) (at the BBC) a booth either inside or adjacent to a studio from which a producer supervises a broadcast. ΚΠ 1889 W. H. Preece & J. Maier Telephone xiv. 231 At most telephone exchanges a silence cabinet is provided in the public office, which subscribers are permitted to use for communication with their own offices, or with other subscribers. 1925 Programme Presentation (BBC Written Archives Centre: R35/728) 5 Each silence cabinet must be equipped with controls for fading in and out each microphone, with signal light controls, reading desk, signal light switching and telephone. 1929 B.B.C. Year-bk. 1930 309 In Savoy Hill there are nine studios, six of which are equipped with silence cabinets (these are small rooms adjacent to the studios from which the announcer can speak before switching over to the studio itself). 2005 B. Hennessy Emergence Broadcasting in Brit. ix. 371 The three microphones were controlled from a desk in the silence cabinet from which the producer could select the combination to be used at any time. 2019 Sunshine Coast (Queensland) Daily (Nexis) 9 Feb. 42 In 1931, the Coolum Beach branch approached the Department of Posts and Telegraphs for a telephone silence cabinet to be built at the post office. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2020; most recently modified version published online March 2022). silencev. 1. intransitive. To cease speaking; to become silent or still. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > inaudibility > be silent [verb (intransitive)] swiec900 peacec1395 husht1530 hust1530 whista1547 silence1551 whust1558 quieta1572 whush1581 whish1607 whisht1815 hist1867 quieten1890 sh1925 shush1929 the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > be silent/refrain from speaking [verb (intransitive)] > stop speaking to make up one's mouthc1175 to shut (also close) one's mouthc1175 blina1300 dumba1300 leavea1375 to put a sock in ita1529 hush1548 silence1551 stay1551 stow1567 stop1579 to save one's breath (also wind)1605 tace1697 stubble it!1699 shut your trap!1796 to keep a calm (or quiet) sough1808 stubble your whids!1830 to shut up1840 to dry up1853 pawl1867 subside1872 to pipe down1876 to shut (one's) head, face1876 shurrup1893 to shut off1896 clam1916 dry1934 shtum1958 to oyster up1973 1551 R. Crowley Philargyrie sig. A.ivv Then forth he stode Wyth full mylde mode Desyrynge them silence Tyll he had tolde All that he wolde Vnto that Audience. 1578 J. Rolland Seuin Seages 30 The Heralds bad sone silence all and ceis. 1594 R. Carew tr. T. Tasso Godfrey of Bulloigne iv. 174 There silenc'd she, and seemed a disdaine Royall, and noble flamed in her face. 1886 E. Randolph Mostly Fools III. i. 25 The busy bustling room silenced and sobered instantly. 1988 L. J. Rosenberg Dillard's i. 10 Dillard's voice lowered and the crowd silenced as he shared what he called his secret to success. 2014 @CenaCentralCom 27 Jan. in twitter.com (accessed 13 Aug. 2019) As soon as Daniel spoke, the crowd silenced to hear him. 2. a. transitive. To prevent or prohibit (a person or group) from speaking or communicating, esp. in order to prevent the free expression of opinions.In 17th and 18th cent. frequently with reference to the prohibiting of ministerial preaching and services (see e.g. quots. 1663 and 1798). Cf. silenced adj. 1a. ΘΚΠ society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restrain [verb (transitive)] > reduce to silence by restraint to put silence toc1384 to put (a person or thing) to silencea1464 silence1553 the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > refrain from uttering [verb (transitive)] > silence or prevent from speaking > by prohibition to put silence toc1384 to put (a person or thing) to silencea1464 silence1553 1553 J. Brooks Serm. Notable Paules Crosse sig. D.viiiv Hath there been any catholike of late yeares refusyng subscription, but that hath been, other depriued, other imprisoned, other banished their company, other at leaste silenced? 1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 v. ii. 96 Imagine me taking your part, And in your power soft silencing your sonne. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) ii. i. 244 He would Haue..silenc'd their Pleaders, And dispropertied their Freedomes. View more context for this quotation 1663 England's Remembrancer xiii. 309 Banishing, imprisoning, and silencing Ministers. 1798 J. Bean Aspects & Duties of Times 20 Our churches will be shut; our ministers silenced; our sabbaths abolished. 1861 W. F. Hook Lives Archbishops I. i. 2 Oppression was legalised and Parliaments were silenced. 2008 Christian Sci. Monitor (Nexis) 29 July (World section) 6 Critics accuse him of using harassment, payoffs, and violence as a tool to silence the opposition. b. transitive. To repress, bring to an end (a thought, emotion, expression, etc.); to suppress, quash (a practice, activity, opinion, etc., esp. one that challenges or criticizes). ΚΠ 1621 R. Brathwait Times Curtaine Drawne sig. N3 And younger Brothers, onely heires of wit For want of meanes, are forc'd to silence it! 1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan iv. xlvi. 380 Let them [sc. opinions] be silenced by the Laws of those, to whom the Teachers of them are subject. 1788 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall IV. xlv. 434 The complaints of the people could no longer be silenced by the splendid names of a legislator and a conqueror. 1798 tr. A.-L.-G. de Staël Treat. Infl. Passions ii. ii. 223 The terrific image of death, it silences all petty rivalries. 1831 Rep. Superior Court N.Y. 1 514 It effectually extinguishes all possibility of benefit to him from that source, and silences all his hopes and pretensions. 1833 H. Martineau Tale of Tyne vii. 124 She vehemently silenced poor Tim's suggestions. 1986 Partisan Rev. Summer 355 Success, even in the pursuit of the most debased goals, tends to silence doubt and criticism. 2008 Irish Times (Nexis) 5 Sept. 14/1 The government's claims to be holding democratic elections is challenged by reports of actions taken to silence dissent. 3. transitive. To leave (something) unmentioned or undiscussed; to pass over in silence, to omit. rare after 17th cent. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > ignoring, disregard > ignore, disregard [verb (transitive)] > omit, pass over > in speaking, writing passa1425 missa1450 ferry1477 pretermit1542 silence1570 slip1607 reticence1833 to miss out1855 to skate over or round1928 1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) II. 1291/1 Amonge other Actes and matters passed and done this present yeare..here is not to be silenced the vnworthy and lamentable death of Robert Packington. 1602 W. Warner Epitome Hist. Eng. in Albions Eng. (rev. ed.) 381 The Surname Tuder: wherein..that of Plantagenet is inclusiuely scilenced. 1627 W. Sclater Briefe Expos. 2 Thess. (1629) 133 The..coniectures of the late Interpreter..I willingly silence. 2009 Letras Femeninas 35 74 Matilde stresses that she must silence the last name and lineage of the parties involved, for they were even omitted in the original tale. 4. a. transitive. To cause or compel (a person) to cease speaking or making noise on a particular occasion; to cause to become silent. Also figurative. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > testing > refutation, disproof > refute, disprove [verb (transitive)] > completely to put silence toc1384 to put (a person or thing) to silencea1464 convell1536 silence1592 to reduce (a person or thing) to silence1605 explode1629 to fetch overa1640 out-argue1662 ruin1665 settle1849 scuttle1888 skyrocket1928 banjax1956 the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > refrain from uttering [verb (transitive)] > silence or prevent from speaking to stop a person's mouthc1175 stilla1225 to keep ina1420 stifle1496 to knit up1530 to muzzle (up) the mouth1531 choke1533 muzzle?1542 to tie a person's tongue1544 tongue-tiea1555 silence1592 untongue1598 to reduce (a person or thing) to silence1605 to bite in1608 gaga1616 to swear downa1616 to laugh down1616 stifle1621 to cry down1623 unworda1627 clamour1646 splint1648 to take down1656 snap1677 stick1708 shut1809 to shut up1814 to cough down1823 to scrape down1855 to howl down1872 extinguish1878 hold1901 shout1924 to pipe down1926 1592 J. Throckmorton Petition most Excellent Maiestie 26 If they speake, they be silenced: if they write, they wante printers. 1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. iv. 4 Ile silence me euen heere, Pray you be round. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) v. i. 180 Silence that fellow: I would he had some cause to prattle for himselfe. View more context for this quotation 1683 D. A. Whole Art Converse 18 If they happen to be silenc'd by another they become on a sudden ill humour'd. 1736 Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. i. i. 16 How difficult it is to silence Imagination enough to make the Voice of Reason even distinctly heard. 1797 A. Radcliffe Italian II. ii. 79 Paulo was silenced for a while, by a significant look from his master. 1825 W. Scott Betrothed i, in Tales Crusaders II. 20 Silenced by this hint, the chirurgeon betook himself to his proper duty. 1877 J. A. Froude Short Stud. (1883) IV. i. iv. 47 The Archbishop of York peculiarly irritated Becket, and was silenced by a violent answer. 1933 D. L. Sayers Hangman's Holiday (1978) 75 She started to scream and he took hold of her throat to silence her. 2019 Times of India (Nexis) 4 Aug. He tries to extend the conversation but she silences him. b. transitive. To deprive (a person) of a possible reply or counter-argument; to refute, confound (a person) completely; to shock, render speechless; to defeat in argument. ΚΠ 1596 M. Sutcliffe Exam. Cartwrights Late Apol. To Rdr. f. 8 Apply this to Iob Throk. and you shall see it fitteth him well, hauing bene silenced with shame ynough. 1733 Present State of Popery 21 This learned priest has silenc'd the parson. 1834 Times 6 Nov. 3/2 It is very seldom that the Ministers themselves ever reply at any length to the continual attacks of the Opposition. The task chiefly devolves on Messrs. Joaquim Antonio de Magalhaes, and Rodrigo de Fonseca de Magalhaes, the better of whom generally succeeds in silencing them. 1943 College Eng. 5 92/1 The engineers can silence us by pointing out that strictly technical schools have made much more radical changes. 2003 N.Y. Times 2 Mar. ii. 1/4 Mr. Reid has not only managed to stay in the picture, he has also silenced his critics with a string of multimillion-selling albums. c. transitive. To cause (an animal or object) to stop making a noise; to still, quieten. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > inaudibility > make inaudible [verb (transitive)] > silence quiet1423 hust1530 whish1542 whist1557 whust1558 husht1598 silencea1616 whisht1804 mute1891 a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) ii. iii. 168 Silence that dreadfull bell, it frights the Isle From her propriety. View more context for this quotation 1735 T. Sheridan in J. Swift Lett. (1768) IV. 99 Upon desiring him to silence our dog. 1979 V. Capel Burglar Alarm Syst. x. 107 An intruder could soon silence the alarm by..cutting the bell wiring. 2018 Times (Nexis) 14 Apr. 22 The two snowfalls of last month stalled spring in its tracks, silencing the birds,..and shrivelling the bramble leaves. d. transitive. To stop, suppress (a noise or sound). ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > inaudibility > make inaudible [verb (transitive)] > silence > stop a sound still1390 extinguish1540 clamoura1616 unshouta1616 silence1617 slumber1622 clam1674 mash1930 1617 J. Davies Wits Bedlam sig. F7 It's easie to cry Hisse; but, tis not so To silence it, and Claps of hands to raise. 1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian v, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. II. 121 Silence her cursed noise, if you should throttle her. 1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe III. i. 31 An awful pause of horror silenced each murmur of the armed spectators. 1927 Courier & Advertiser (Dundee) 5 May 9/4 He went to the telephone and silenced the shrilling of its bell by unhooking the receiver. 2018 Birmingham Evening Mail (Nexis) 8 Mar. 9 Two armed thugs tied and gagged a terrified couple to silence their screams before they stole their car. e. transitive. To prevent (a telephone or other device) from ringing or producing an audible signal; (now) esp. to switch (a mobile phone or other electronic device) to silent mode (silent mode n. at silent adj. and n. Compounds 2). ΚΠ 1920 New Way May 6/1 Silencing the Phone. I had disconnected the telephone so as to have a quiet hour with myself. 1999 Newsweek 4 Oct. (front matter) (advt.) Profile settings..let you silence your phone during important meetings. 2018 W. R. Miller Listening Well xiii. 59 Some have family conversations at the dinner table, turning off music or TV and silencing phones or other devices. 5. transitive. Military and Navy. To force (an enemy gun, battery, ship, etc.) to cease firing; to disable by superior fire. Also: to stop (the fire of an enemy gun). ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > putting weapons or equipment out of action > put weapons or equipment out of action [verb (transitive)] > silence a gun silence1658 1658 W. Sanderson Compl. Hist. Life King Charles 775 Onslow in the Lane had set up a Demy Culverin, till a shot from the House silenced his Gun. 1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random I. xxxiii. 289 The enemy's fire..slackened, and towards evening was quite silenced. 1755 in Naval Chron. (1799) 1 9 We silenced three of her lower deck guns. 1845 H. H. Wilson Hist. Brit. India 1805–35 I. vi. 345 The batteries..opened on the town and fort, and soon silenced their fire. 1893 W. Forbes-Mitchell Reminisc. Great Mutiny 96 A number of the best shots..were selected to try and silence the fire from the battery. 2003 National Post (Canada) 6 Mar. a7/3 The Canadian troops managed to take the ridge by using innovative tactics such as accurate counter-battery fire to silence German guns. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > physical insensibility > dullness of sense perception > dull (the senses) [verb (transitive)] > stun asweveOE stonyc1330 astone1340 astony1340 stouna1400 stounda1400 stuna1400 stoynec1450 dozen1487 astonish1530 benumb1530 daunt1581 dammisha1598 still1778 silence1785 to knock, lay (out), etc., cold1829 to lay out1891 out1896 wooden1904 to knock rotten1919 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > causing to come or go down > cause to come or go down [verb (transitive)] > bring to the ground/lay low > knock down > specifically a person or animal fellOE to strike down1470 quell1535 to run down1587 to trip (also turn, tumble, kick, etc.) up a person's heels1587 to strike up the heels of1602 level1770 silence1785 grass1814 send1822 to send to grass1845 beef1926 deck1953 1785 F. Grose Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue To silence a man, to knock him down, or stun him. 7. transitive. To get rid of (something unwanted or inconvenient) by maintaining silence. With away. Now colloquial. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > refrain from uttering [verb (transitive)] > get rid of by maintaining silence silence1788 1788 F. Burney Diary & Lett. (1842) IV. 197 The subject..being always embarrassing to me.., I silenced it away. 1993 Guardian (Nexis) 31 Dec. 4 Are the guilty now paying for their crime? Of course not. The evidence was simply silenced away. 8. transitive. euphemistic. To kill (a person). ΚΠ 1854 T. Taylor & C. Reade Two Loves & Life iii. iii. 52 I was minded to silence him with a bullet; but after all, he is more fool than knave. 1967 European Stars & Stripes (Darmstadt, Germany) 8 Apr. 5/5 He..refused most food and drinks for fear his erstwhile spymasters might silence him with poison. 2007 Sunday Times (Nexis) 12 Aug. (Culture section) 21 The aberrant intellectual is simply silenced with a bullet, piano wire or a head-crushing boot. 9. transitive. Molecular Biology. To suppress (the expression of a gene or genetic material), either naturally or as a result of genetic engineering. Cf. silent adj. 7b. ΚΠ 1967 W. S. Bullough Evol. Differentiation v. 119 The ultimate in stability is reached in any tissue in which all the genes are finally silenced and in which all control is exercised at the RNA level. 1989 BioScience 39 590/1 The antisense sequence would be complementary to the messenger RNA (mRNA) transcribed from the gene..and therefore able to bind and silence the mRNA. 2011 Times 12 Mar. 26/2 Genes may be silenced, ignored or modified by environmental factors encountered by the developing organism. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2020; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.int.a1225v.1551 |
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