silences
|si-len-ces|
/ˈsaɪləns/
(silence)
quieting or suppressing
Etymology
'silence' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'silence', ultimately from Latin 'silentia', where 'silēre' meant 'to be silent'.
'silence' changed from Latin 'silentia' into Old French 'silence' and entered Middle English as 'silence', eventually becoming the modern English word 'silence'.
Initially it meant 'the state of being silent'; over time it has retained that core meaning while also being used in derived senses (e.g., the act of silencing someone).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'silence': periods or instances of silence; gaps with little or no sound or speech.
There were several awkward silences during the meeting.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/12/15 08:36