silent

silent
silent (adj.) 1560s, from L. silentem, from silere (see SILENCE (Cf. silence)). Phrase strong, silent (type) is attested from 1905. Silent majority in the political sense of "mass of people whose moderate views are not publicly expressed and thus overlooked" is first attested 1955 in a British context and was used by John F. Kennedy but is most associated in U.S. with the rhetoric of the Nixon administration (1969-74).
It is time for America's silent majority to stand up for its rights, and let us remember the American majority includes every minority. America's silent majority is bewildered by irrational protest. [Spiro T. Agnew, May 9, 1969]
In Victorian use, the phrase meant "the dead" (1874).

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Silent — 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. [1913 Webster] How silent is this town! Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. Not speaking; indisposed to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • silent — si·lent adj 1: making no utterance: resolved not to speak esp. about a certain topic the right to remain silent 2: making no mention or account: omitting explanation and leaving questions unanswered a criminal statute silent as to the requirement …   Law dictionary

  • silent — [sī′lənt] adj. [L silens < prp. of silere, to be silent, still, prob. < IE base * sē(i) , * sī , to rest > SEED, SIDE, Goth ( ana)silan, to cease (of the wind)] 1. making no vocal sound; not speaking; speechless; mute 2. seldom speaking; …   English World dictionary

  • silent — 1 Silent, uncommunicative, taciturn, reticent, reserved, secretive, close, close lipped, closemouthed, tight lipped are comparable when they mean showing restraint in speaking to or with others. Silent and uncommunicative often imply a tendency… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

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  • Silent pc — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda El Silent PC tiene como fin conseguir computadoras más silenciosas. El ruido en las computadoras es para muchos un problema. El constante aumento en la potencia y prestaciones de las computadoras ha provocado que las …   Wikipedia Español

  • Silent — Si lent, n. That which is silent; a time of silence. [R.] The silent of the night. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • silent — [adj1] quiet; speechless bashful, buttoned up*, checked, clammed up*, close, closed up, closemouthed, curbed, dumb, dummied up*, faint, hush, hushed, iced*, inarticulate, incoherent, inconversable, indistinct, inhibited, laconic, mousy, mum, mute …   New thesaurus

  • silent — ► ADJECTIVE 1) not making or accompanied by any sound. 2) not speaking or not spoken aloud. 3) (of a film) without an accompanying soundtrack. 4) (of a letter) written but not pronounced, e.g. b in doubt. 5) not prone to speak much. DERIVATIVES… …   English terms dictionary

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