silent

silent 安静的，沉默的

来自拉丁语 silere,安静的，-ent,形容词后缀。

silent

silent: [16] Silent comes from the present participle of Latin silēre ‘be silent’. It is not clear what the origins of this were, although it seems likely to be related in some way to Gothic anasilan, a verb which denoted the wind dying down, and also perhaps to Latin dēsinere ‘stop’ (in which case its underlying meaning would be ‘stop speaking’). The Latin-derived noun silentium actually reached English much earlier than the adjective, as silence [13].

silent (adj.)

c. 1500, "without speech, silent, not speaking," from Latin silentem (nominative silens) "still, calm, quiet," present participle of silere "be quiet or still" (see silence (n.)). Meaning "free from noise or sound" is from 1580s.

Of letters, c. 1600; of films, 1914. In the looser sense "of few words," from 1840. Phrase strong, silent (type) is attested from 1905. Silent majority in the political sense of "mass of people whose moderate views are not publicly expressed and thus overlooked" is first attested 1955 in a British context and was used by John F. Kennedy but is most associated in U.S. with the rhetoric of the Nixon administration (1969-74).

It is time for America's silent majority to stand up for its rights, and let us remember the American majority includes every minority. America's silent majority is bewildered by irrational protest. [Spiro T. Agnew, May 9, 1969]

In Victorian use, the phrase meant "the dead" (1874; compare Roman use of the noun plural of "silent" to mean "the dead"). Silence is golden (1831) is Carlyle's translation ["Sartor Resartus"] of part of the "Swiss Inscription" Sprechen ist silbern, Schweigen ist golden. In one 14c. text Latin "one who is silent" is translated by a beere stille.

1. Gail was silent for a moment, regarding Harry with his steady gaze.

盖尔镇定地注视着哈里，沉默了片刻。

2. He spoke no English and was completely silent during the visit.

他不会说英语，参观过程中一言未发。

3. The forest was dark and silent, haunted by shadows and unseen presences.

这个森林黑暗寂静，经常有幽灵和看不见的鬼怪出没。

4. He looked back at the abject, silent girl and repeated his question.

他转过头看着这个噤若寒蝉的女孩，又重复了一遍他的问题。

5. She was a small, silent woman with pinched features and thin hair.

她是一位瘦小、沉默的女子，面容消瘦，头发稀疏。

【noiseless, silent, calm, peaceful, serene, still, quiet】
这组词都有“平静的，无声无息”的意思，其区别是：
noiseless: 指无任何噪音或不出声，无声无息。
silent: 普通用词，指缄默不语或无声无息。
calm: 普通用词，既可指天气、海洋等的平静状态，又可指人的镇定沉着、不慌乱，不受外界影响和情绪支配。
peaceful: 普通用词，指一种不受外物扰乱和刺激的内在宁静或和平状态。
serene: 指一种超脱一切烦恼的宁静状态。
still: 指平静而又安定的状态。
quiet: 普通用词，指没有喧闹、活动或骚乱的寂静状态。