Silence | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Sī'lençe, n.

noun

n. [Fr. silence, Pr. silenci, silencia, Sp. & Pg. silencio, It. silenzio, Lat. silentium. See SILENT.]

Sense 1. The state of being silent; entire absence of sound or noise; absolute stillness.

I saw and heard, for such a numerous host Fled not in silence through the frighted deep. Milton.

Sense 2. Forbearance from, or absence of, speech; taciturnity; muteness.

Sense 3. Secrecy; as, these things were transacted in silence.

Sense 4. The cessation of rage, agitation, or tumult; calmness; quiet; as, the elements reduced to silence.

Sense 5. Absence of mention; oblivion. “And what most merits fame, in silence hid.” Milton.

Eternal silence be their doom. Milton.

Sī'lence, interj.

interjection

Be silent;—used elliptically for let there be silence, or keep silence.

Sī'lence, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. SILENCED (sī'lenst); p. pr. & vb. n. SILENCING.] 1. To compel to silence; to cause to be still; to still; to hush. Silence that dreadful bell. Shak. 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, and the like, especially from the act of preaching; as, to silence a minister of the gospel. [U. S.] The Rev. Thomas Hooker, of Chelmsford, in Essex, was silenced for non-conformity. B. Trumbull. 4. To cause to cease firing by a vigorous cannonade; as, to silence the batteries of an enemy.