silence

Etymology

From Middle English silence, from Old French silence, from Latin silentium (“silence”), from silēns (“quiet, silent”, present participle of silēre) + -ium. Displaced native Old English swīġe.

noun

1. The absence of any sound.
   When the motor stopped, the silence was almost deafening.
   Words like violence break the silence / Come crashing in into my little world 1990, Martin L. Gore (lyrics and music), “Enjoy the Silence”, in Violator, performed by Depeche Mode
   deadly silence
   in silence
   total silence
2. The act of refraining from speaking.
   "You have the right to silence," said the police officer.
   1832, Daniel Webster, "a convention", quoted in The History of the Union, and of the Constitution by Charles Chauncey Burr The administration itself keeps a profound silence.
3. Form of meditative worship practiced by the Society of Friends (Quakers); meeting for worship.
   During silence a message came to me that there was that of God in every person.

verb

1. (transitive) To make (someone or something) silent.
   Can you silence the crowd, so we can start the show?
2. (transitive) To repress the expression of something.
   Women, as well as children, have their thoughts or emotions routinely silenced.
3. (transitive) To suppress criticism, etc.
   Silence the critics.
   Silence the doubters.
   A state ideology, mixing nationalism, and basic Marxist economics, going under the name "Juche", was constructed, and Kim Il-sung effectively silenced, disposed of and cleared away any opposition, isolating the country and exercising an iron grip on the military, the state media and the government and party organs. December 19, 2011, Kerry Brown, “Kim Jong-il obituary”, in The Guardian
4. (molecular biology) To block gene expression.
5. (euphemistic) To murder.
   They, and others through the years, believed Ruby must have acted on his own since there was no logic to the supposition that anyone could trust an uncontrollable, unreliable loudmouth like Ruby to silence Oswald. 2013, Mark Shaw, The Poison Patriarch: How the Betrayals of Joseph P. Kennedy Caused the Assassination of JFK, page 150

intj

1. (imperative) Be silent.
   Silence! Enough of your insolence!
   (in response to laughter from the audience) Silence! I kill you! September 17, 2007, Spark of Insanity, spoken by Achmed the Dead Terrorist (Jeff Dunham)