Silent, a.
Etymology: [L. silens, -entis, p. pr. of silere to be silent; akin to Goth. ana-silan.]
1. Free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet. How silent is this town! Shak.
2. Not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn; not loquacious; not talkative. Ulysses, adds he, was the most eloquent and most silent of men. Broome. This new-created world, whereof in hell Fame is not silent. Milton.
3. Keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed; as, the wind is silent. Parnell. Sir W. Raleigh.
4. (Pron.)
3 more senses
Not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent; as, e is silent in "fable."
5. Having no effect; not operating; inefficient. [R.] Cause . . . silent, virtueless, and dead. Sir W. Raleigh. Silent partner. See Dormant partner, under Dormant.
Syn. -- Mute; taciturn; dumb; speechless; quiet; still. See Mute, and Taciturn.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Silent, n.
That which is silent; a time of silence. [R.] "The silent of the night." Shak.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for silent; he lists it under taciturn.
Where he writes about it:
Dumb, mute, silent and speechless refer to fact or state; taciturn refers to habit and disposition. — from taciturn
The talkative person may be stricken dumb with surprise or terror; the obstinate may remain mute; one may be silent through preoccupation of mind or of set purpose; but the taciturn person is averse to the utterance of thought or feeling and to communication with others, either from natural disposition or for the occasion. — from taciturn
One who is silent does not speak at all; one who is taciturn speaks when compelled, but in a grudging way that repels further approach. — from taciturn