v. t. [ Akin to Sw. sila to strain, sil sieve, G. sielen to draw away or lead off water. √151a. See Silt. ] To strain, as fresh milk. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Icel. sīld herring; akin to Sw. sill, Dan. sild. Cf. Sill the young of a herring. ] (Zool.) A young or small herring. [ Eng. ] Pennant. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A sieve with fine meshes. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Filth; sediment. [ Prov. Eng. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To drop; to flow; to fall. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Silence that dreadful bell; it frights the isle. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To put to rest; to quiet. [ 1913 Webster ]

This would silence all further opposition. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

These would have silenced their scruples. Rogers. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Rev. Thomas Hooker of Chelmsford, in Essex, was silenced for nonconformity. B. Trumbull. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To cause to cease firing, as by a vigorous cannonade; as, to silence the batteries of an enemy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., fr. L. silentium. See Silent. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The state of being silent; entire absence of sound or noise; absolute stillness. [ 1913 Webster ]

I saw and heared; for such a numerous host
Fled not in silence through the frighted deep. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Forbearance from, or absence of, speech; taciturnity; muteness. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Secrecy; as, these things were transacted in silence. [ 1913 Webster ]

The administration itself keeps a profound silence. D. Webster. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The cessation of rage, agitation, or tumilt; calmness; quiest; as, the elements were reduced to silence. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Absence of mention; oblivion. [ 1913 Webster ]

And what most merits fame, in silence hid. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

interj. Be silent; -- used elliptically for let there be silence, or keep silence. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One that silences; specif.: (a) The muffler of an internal-combustion engine. (b) Any of various devices to silence the humming noise of telegraph wires. (c) A device for silencing the report of a firearm shooting its projectiles singly, as a tubular attachment for the muzzle having circular plates that permit the passage of the projectile but impart a rotary motion to, and thus retard, the exploding gases. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ NL., fr. L. Silenus, the attendant of Bacchus. ] (Bot.) A genus of caryophyllaceous plants, usually covered with a viscid secretion by which insects are caught; catchfly. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bon Silène. See Silène, in the Vocabulary. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 talk; speechless; mute; taciturn; not loquacious; not talkative. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ulysses, adds he, was the most eloquent and most silent of men. Broome. [ 1913 Webster ]

This new-created world, whereof in hell
Fame is not silent. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed; as, the wind is silent. Parnell. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Pron.) Not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent; as, e is silent in “fable.” [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Having no effect; not operating; inefficient. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Cause . . . silent, virtueless, and dead. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

Silent partner. See Dormant partner, under Dormant. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Mute; taciturn; dumb; speechless; quiet; still. See Mute, and Taciturn. [ 1913 Webster ]