silence
UK[ˈsaɪləns]US[ˈsaɪləns]
n
Complete absence of sound
n
The state of not speaking or making noise
v
To cause or force someone to stop speaking or making noise
Morpheme Breakdown
sil
ence
sil
quiet
ence
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'silence' entered English in the 13th century from Old French silence, which itself derived from Latin silentium, a noun meaning 'a being silent'. This Latin term is built on the present participle silēns (being quiet) of the verb silēre, meaning 'to be quiet or still'. The ultimate origin of silēre is uncertain, though it may be connected to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to be quiet' or 'to rest'. The core logic of the word has remained remarkably consistent: from the ancient verb describing the action of being quiet, a suffix was added to create a noun naming the resulting state, a concept that has carried directly into modern English.
Analysis
Structure: sil (quiet) + ence (noun suffix)
- sil: From Latin silēre (to be quiet, to be still). Functional role: Core root conveying the meaning of quietness.
- ence: From Latin -entia, a noun-forming suffix denoting a state or quality. Functional role: Suffix that forms an abstract noun from the root.
Examples
A profound silence fell over the room as the speaker took the stage.
The government tried to silence its critics through intimidation.
In the silence of the early morning, you could hear the distant call of a bird.