4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Silence  \Si"lence\,  n.  [F.,  fr  L.  silentium  See  {Silent}.] 
  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  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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Silence  \Si"lence\,  interj. 
  Be  silent;  --  used  elliptically  for  let  there  be  silence,  or 
  keep  silence.  --Shak. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Silence  \Si"lence\,  v.  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. 
  --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,  or  the  like  especially  from  the  act  of 
  preaching;  as  to  silence  a  minister  of  the  gospel. 
 
  The  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  enemy. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  silence 
  n  1:  the  state  of  being  silent  (as  when  no  one  is  speaking); 
  "there  was  a  shocked  silence":  "he  gestured  for  silence" 
  2:  the  absence  of  sound;  "he  needed  silence  in  order  to  sleep"; 
  "the  street  was  quiet"  [syn:  {quiet}]  [ant:  {sound}] 
  3:  a  refusal  to  speak  when  expected;  "his  silence  about  my 
  contribution  was  surprising"  [syn:  {muteness}] 
  4:  the  trait  of  keeping  things  secret  [syn:  {secrecy},  {secretiveness}] 
  v  1:  cause  to  be  quiet  or  not  talk;  "This  threat  ought  to  shut 
  them  up!"  [syn:  {hush},  {quieten},  {still},  {shut  up},  {hush 
  up}] 
  2:  get  rid  of  silence,  or  suppress;  "burke  an  issue"  [syn:  {burke}] 

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