Tăç'i-tûrn, a.

a. [Lat. taciturnus, Fr. taciturne, It. & Sp. taciturno. See supra.] Habitually silent; not free to converse; not apt to talk or speak.

Synonyms—Silent; reserved.—TACITURN, SILENT. Silent has reference to the act; taciturn, to the habit. A man may be silent from circumstances; he is taciturn from disposition. The loquacious man is at times silent; one who is taciturn may now and then make an effort at conversation.

What shall Cordelia do? Love and be silent. Shak.

The cause of Addison’s taciturnity was a natural diffidence in the company of strangers. Knox.