Si"lent (?), a. [L. silens, - entis, p. pr. of silere to be silent; akin to Goth. ana- silan.] 1. Free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet.

How silent is this town!

2. Not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn; not loquacious; not talkative.

Ulysses, adds he, was the most eloquent and most silent of men.

This new-created world, whereof in hell
Fame is not silent.

3. Keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed; as, the wind is silent. Parnell. Sir W. Raleigh.

4. (Pron.) Not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent; as, e is silent in "fable."

5. Having no effect; not operating; inefficient. [R.]

Cause . . . silent, virtueless, and dead.

Syn. -- Mute; taciturn; dumb; speechless; quiet; still. See Mute, and Taciturn.

Si"lent, n. That which is silent; a time of silence. [R.] "The silent of the night." Shak.

Si"lent (?), a. [L. silens, - entis, p. pr. of silere to be silent; akin to Goth. ana- silan.] 1. Free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet.

How silent is this town!

2. Not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn; not loquacious; not talkative.

Ulysses, adds he, was the most eloquent and most silent of men.

This new-created world, whereof in hell
Fame is not silent.

3. Keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed; as, the wind is silent. Parnell. Sir W. Raleigh.

4. (Pron.) Not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent; as, e is silent in "fable."

5. Having no effect; not operating; inefficient. [R.]

Cause . . . silent, virtueless, and dead.

Syn. -- Mute; taciturn; dumb; speechless; quiet; still. See Mute, and Taciturn.

Si"lent, n. That which is silent; a time of silence. [R.] "The silent of the night." Shak.

• Free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet.
       *How silent is this town! Shakespeare
  
• Not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn; not loquacious; not talkative.
       *Ulysses, adds he, was the most eloquent and most silent of men. Broome.
       *This new-created world, whereof in hell Fame is not silent. Milton.
  
• Keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed; as, the wind is silent. Parnell. Sir W. Raleigh.
  
• (Pronunciation) Not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent; as, "e is silent in fable."
  
• Having no effect; not operating; inefficient.
       *Cause ... silent, virtueless, and dead. Sir W. Raleigh.
  
• That which is silent; a time of silence.
       *The silent of the night." Shakespeare