Mawson, C.O.S., ed. (1870–1938). Roget’s International Thesaurus. 1922.
Class IV. Words Relating to the Intellectual Faculties
Division (II) Communication of Ideas
Section III. Means of Communicating Ideas
2. Spoken Language
585. Taciturnity.
NOUN:
SILENCE, muteness, obmutescence [rare], laconism, laconicism, taciturnity, pauciloquy, costiveness [obs.], curtness; reserve, reticence (concealment) [See Concealment].
MAN OF FEW WORDS; Spartan, Laconian.
VERB:
BE SILENT &c. adj.; keep silence; hold one’s -tongue, - peace; not speak [See Speech]; say nothing; seal -, close -, put a padlock on- the -lips, - mouth; put a bridle on one’s tongue; keep one’s tongue between one’s teeth; make no sign, not let a word escape one; keep a secret [See Concealment]; have not a word to throw at a dog, not have a word to say; lay -, place- the finger on the lips; render mute [See Aphonia].
stick in one’s throat.
ADJECTIVE:
SILENT, mute, mum; silent as a -post, - stone, - the grave (still) [See Silence]; dumb [See Aphonia]; unconversable.
TACITURN, laconic, pauciloquent, concise, sententious, sparing of words; close, close-mouthed, close-tongued; costive [obs.], inconversable [obs.], curt; reserved; reticent (concealing) [See Concealment].
INTERJECTION:
SILENCE! tush! mum! hush! chut! [F.], hist! tut! not another word! stop right there! be still! chup! [Hind.].
