tacev.
/ˈteɪsiː/ The Latin for ‘Be silent’. tace is Latin for a candle, a humorously veiled hint to any one to keep silent about something.
ΘΚΠ
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
Cf. 1605 W. Camden Remaines i. 162 Edmund of Langley..asked..his sonnes..what was Latine for a fetter-locke: Whereat when the yong gentleman studied, the father said,..I will tell you, Hic hæc hoc taceatis, as advising them to be silent and quiet.]
1697 W. Dampier New Voy. around World xiii. 356 Trust none of them, for they are all Thieves, but Tace is Latin for a Candle.
1752 H. Fielding Amelia I. i. x. 85 ‘Tace, Madam,’ answered Murphy, ‘is Latin for a Candle: I commend your Prudence.’
1821 W. Scott Let. 24 Feb. (1934) VI. 364 Tace shall be hereafter with me Latin for a candle.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online September 2018).
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