rhizoverbBeta
DictionarysilentWithout sound
adjective

silent

SIGH-luhnt/ˈsaɪlənt/

Without sound or spoken expression.

The adult sits silent while watching snow outside.

A white adult sits peacefully making no sound while watching snow fall outside.
Etymology
silLatinto be quiet or still
+entLatinpresent participle ending

The pieces describe “being quiet or still.” English first used silent for someone not speaking, then extended it to anything free from noise or sound; the deeper origin of silere is unknown.

In context

LibriVox Audiobooks276:06
For a brief space all was silent as though we had been too close to hear and the sound had leapt over us
Everyman at War. Sixty Personal Narratives of the War by Charles B. Purdom Part 1/3 | Audio Book

More examples

  • The room remained silent after the music ended.
  • She gave a silent nod.
  • The old machine was now silent.

Forms

silent

silently adverb — Without sound or speech.

Similar words

quiet
Makes little sound rather than necessarily none.
mute
Not speaking or unable to speak, depending on context.