silent

• adj.無音; 沈黙; 記録されない
• n. 無声映画

ラテン語のsilere「静か」と、形容詞的接尾辞の-entから。

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.

ゲイルは落ち着いてハリーを見つめ、しばらく黙っていた。

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

彼は英語が話せず、見学中は一言も発しなかった。

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

この森は暗く静かで、幽霊や見えない幽霊がよく出没する。

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

彼はこの身震いしている女の子を振り返って、もう一度彼の問題を繰り返した。

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

彼女はやせていて、沈黙している女性で、顔がやつれていて、髪の毛がまばらだ。