词源 |
silence n.c. 1200, "muteness, state of being or keeping silent, a forbearing from speech or utterance," from Old French silence "state of being silent; absence of sound or noise," from Latin silentium "a being silent," from silens, present participle of silere "be quiet or still," a word of unknown origin. The meaning "absence of sound" in English is from late 14c. The meaning "absence of mention" is from 1570s. Silence is golden (1831) is Carlyle's translation ["Sartor Resartus"] of part of the "Swiss Inscription" Sprechen ist silbern, Schweigen ist golden. silence v. 1560s, intransitive, "become still or silent;" 1590s, transitive, "make silent, restrain from speech or noise," from silence (n.). Related: Silenced; silencing. updated on October 26, 2022 |