Added 9 October 2026
silent
/ˈsaɪ̯lənt/ adjective
In Latin: silens, tacitus Wiktionary
adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about silent at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- Free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet.
- Not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn; not loquacious; not talkative.
- Keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed.
noun
Origin
From Latin silēns (“silent”), present participle of sileō (“be silent”), from Proto-Indo-European *seyl- (“still, windless, quiet, slow”). Related to Gothic 𐌰𐌽𐌰𐍃𐌹𐌻𐌰𐌽 (anasilan, “to cease, grow still, be silent”), Old English sālnes (“silence”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)