mute
UK[mjuːt]US[mjuːt]
adj
Refusing to speak; silent.
adj
Lacking the power of speech; dumb.
v
To deaden or muffle the sound of something.
n
A device used to soften the sound of a musical instrument.
Etymology
The word 'mute' entered English in the late 14th century from the Anglo-French 'muet' and ultimately from the Latin 'mutus', meaning silent or speechless. This Latin term is thought to be of imitative origin, possibly related to the natural sound one makes with closed lips, 'mu-'. The core concept of refraining from or being incapable of speech has remained remarkably consistent. Over time, its application broadened metaphorically, extending from silent people to describe silenced musical instruments and, as a verb, the act of making any sound quieter.
Analysis
The word 'mute' is a simplex word borrowed as a whole from Latin. It does not contain separable, productive morphemes within its modern English spelling.
Examples
The prisoner remained mute throughout the interrogation.
She pressed the mute button on the remote control during the commercial.
The violinist attached a mute to the bridge of her instrument for a softer passage.