Hush, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hushed; p. pr. & vb. n. Hushing.]
Etymology: [OE. huschen, hussen, prob. of imitative origin; cf. LG. hussen to lull to sleep, G. husch quick, make haste, be silent.]
1. To still; to silence; to calm; to make quiet; to repress the noise or clamor of. My tongue shall hush again this storm of war. Shak.
2. To appease; to allay; to calm; to soothe. With thou, then, Hush my cares Otway. And hush'd my deepest grief of all. Tennyson. To hush up, to procure silence concerning; to suppress; to keep secret. "This matter is hushed up." Pope.
3 other Webster entries under this spelling
Hush, v. i.
To become or to keep still or quiet; to become silent; -- esp. used in the imperative, as an exclamation; be still; be silent or quiet; make no noise. Hush, idle words, and thoughts of ill. Keble. But all these strangers' presence every one did hush. Spenser.
Hush, n.
Stillness; silence; quiet. [R.] "It is the hush of night." Byron. Hush money, money paid to secure silence, or to prevent the disclosure of facts. Swift.
Hush, a.
Silent; quiet. "Hush as death." Shak.