unspeakingn.
/ˌənˈspikɪŋ/ (un- prefix1 8.)
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
1860 J. Ruskin Mod. Painters V. 164 False speaking [is] unspeaking,—on the negative side of silence.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
unspeakingadj.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈspiːkɪŋ/, U.S. /ˌənˈspikɪŋ/ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > unintelligibility > inexpressibility > [adjective]
unsayinglyOE
wordlessa1200
unanemneda1225
unspeaking1340
untellablea1382
unenarrable1382
unspeakablea1400
ineffablec1450
inenarrablec1450
indicible1480
enarrable1482
inexplicable1502
inspeakable?1504
innominable1532
unoutspeakable1535
unexpressable1548
innarrable1554
inpronunciable1554
uncommunicable1555
inexprimablea1577
unexpressiblea1586
unutterablea1586
expressless1590
nameless1597
recountless1601
inutterable1603
indeclarable1610
unnameable1610
unreportable1611
speakless1612
unexpressivea1616
inexpressiblea1631
utterless1643
inexpressive1652
unwordablec1660
incommunicable1694
paintless1729
descriptionless1749
undelineable1767
describeless1799
indefinable1810
undescribable1818
unqualifiable1822
untelling1823
utterless1832
unpindownable1915
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] > very great > and indescribable
untalelyc1225
unspeaking1340
unsayingc1350
untellablea1382
unspeakablea1400
ineffablec1450
unrehearsable1513
unutterablea1586
unrelatable1621
inexpressiblea1631
inexpressive1652
undescribable1728
indescribable1785
untelling1823
1340 Ayenb. 266 Ich yzeȝ þe ilke onspekynde an[d] ontodelinde mageste of þe holy trinyte.
2. Not speaking; unable to speak. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > [adjective]
unspeakinga1382
speechless1390
mutec1400
dumb1406
silenta1425
peaceablec1425
secretc1440
of few wordsa1500
tongue-tied1529
mum1532
closec1540
strait-laced1546
tongue-dumb1556
incommunicable1568
sparing1568
inconversable1577
retentive1599
wordless1604
mumbudget1622
uncommunicable1628
monastica1631
word-bound1644
on (also upon) the reserve1655
strait-mouthed1664
oyster-like1665
incommunicative1670
mumchance1681
speechless1726
taciturnous1727
tongue-tacked1727
monosyllabic1735
silentish1737
untalkative1739
silentious1749
buttoned-up1767
taciturn1771
close as wax1772
untittletattling1779
reticent1825
voiceless1827
say-nothing1838
unremonstrant1841
still1855
unvocal1858
inexpansive186.
short-tongued1864
non-communicating1865
tight-lipped1876
unworded1886
chup1896
tongue-bound1906
shut-mouthed1936
zip-lipped1943
shtum1958
the mind > language > speech > [adjective] > speaking > not speaking
unspeakinga1382
non-speaking1850
non-communicating1960
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Job xxxviii. 9 With clothis of vnspekende childhed.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Ps. viii. 3 Of the mouth of vnspekende childer..thou performedist preising.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) v. vi. 178 His description Prou'd vs vnspeaking sottes. View more context for this quotation
1796 E. Hamilton Lett. Hindoo Rajah (1811) II. 81 All was placid uniformity, and unspeaking regularity of feature.
1812 P. B. Shelley Mother & Son in Poet. Wks. (1870) II. 527 The proofs of an unspeaking sorrow dwelt Within her ghastly hollowness of eye.
1935 E. Bowen House in Paris ii. iv. 129 Karen herself had more than once been the victim of that unspeaking smile.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1860
adj.1340