Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Silence
1.
The state of being silent; entire absence of sound or noise; absolute stillness.
I saw and heared; for such a numerous host
Fled not in
Fled not in
silence
through the frighted deep. Milton.
2.
Forbearance from, or absence of, speech; taciturnity; muteness.
3.
Secrecy;
as, these things were transacted in
. silence
The administration itself keeps a profound
silence
. D. Webster.
4.
The cessation of rage, agitation, or tumilt; calmness; quiest;
as, the elements were reduced to
. silence
5.
Absence of mention; oblivion.
And what most merits fame, in
silence
hid. Milton.
Si′lence
,int
erj.
Be silent; – used elliptically for let there be silence, or keep silence.
Shak.
Si′lence
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Silenced
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Silencing
.] 1.
To compel to silence; to cause to be still; to still; to hush.
Silence
that dreadful bell; it frights the isle. Shakespeare
2.
To put to rest; to quiet.
This would
silence
all further opposition. Clarendon.
These would have
silenced
their scruples. Rogers.
3.
To restrain from the exercise of any function, privilege of instruction, or the like, especially from the act of preaching;
as, to
. silence
a minister of the gospelThe Rev. Thomas Hooker of Chelmsford, in Essex, was
silenced
for nonconformity. B. Trumbull.
4.
To cause to cease firing, as by a vigorous cannonade;
as, to
. silence
the batteries of an enemyWebster 1828 Edition
Silence
SI'LENCE
,Noun.
1.
In a general sense, stillness, or entire absence of sound or noise; as the silence of midnight.2.
In animals, the state of holding the peace; forbearance of speech in man, or of noise in other animals. I was dumb with silence; I held my peace, even from good. Ps 39.3.
Habitual taciturnity; opposed to loquacity.4.
Secrecy. These things were transacted in silence.5.
Stillness; calmness; quiet; cessation of rage, agitation or tumult; as the elements reduced to silence.6.
Absence of mention; oblivion, Eternal silence be their doom. And what most merits fame, in silence hid.7.
Silence, in used elliptically for let there be silence, an injunction to keep silence.SI'LENCE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To oblige to hold the peace; to restrain from noise or speaking.2.
To still; to quiet; to restrain; to appease. This would silence all further opposition. These would have silenced their scruples.3.
To stop; as, to silence complaints or clamor.4.
To still; to cause to cease firing; as, to silence guns or a battery.5.
To restrain from preaching by revoking a license to preach; as, to silence a minister of the gospel. The Rev. Thomas Hooker, of Chelmsford in Essex, was silenced for non-conformity.6.
To put an end to; to cause to cease. The question between agriculture and commerce has received a decision which has silenced the rivalships between them.