Mute, a.
 1. Not speaking; uttering no sound; silent.
 All the heavenly choir stood mute,
 And silence was in heaven.   --Milton.
 Note: ☞ In law a prisoner is said to stand mute, when, upon being arranged, he makes no answer, or does not plead directly, or will not put himself on trial.
 2. Incapable of speaking; dumb.
 3. Not uttered; unpronounced; silent; also, produced by complete closure of the mouth organs which interrupt the passage of breath; -- said of certain letters. See 5th Mute, 2.
 4. Not giving a ringing sound when struck; -- said of a metal.
 Mute swan Zool., a European wild white swan (Cygnus olor syn. Cygnus gibbus), which produces no loud notes, in distinction from the Trumpeter swan.
 Syn: -- Silent; dumb; speechless.
 Usage: Mute, Silent, Dumb. One is silent who does not speak; one is dumb who can not, for want of the proper organs; as, a dumb beast, etc.; and hence, figuratively, we speak of a person as struck dumb with astonishment, etc.  One is mute who is held back from speaking by some special cause; as, he was mute through fear; mute astonishment, etc.  Such is the case with most of those who never speak from childhood; they are not ordinarily dumb, but mute because they are deaf, and therefore never learn to talk; and hence their more appropriate name is deaf-mutes.
 They spake not a word;
 But, like dumb statues, or breathing stones,
 Gazed each on other.   --Shak.
 All sat mute,
 Pondering the danger with deep thoughts.   --Milton.


 Swan n.
 1. Zool. Any one of numerous species of large aquatic birds belonging to Cygnus, Olor, and allied genera of the subfamily Cygninae. They have a large and strong beak and a long neck, and are noted for their graceful movements when swimming. Most of the northern species are white. In literature the swan was fabled to sing a melodious song, especially at the time of its death.
 Note: ☞ The European white, or mute, swan (Cygnus gibbus), which is most commonly domesticated, bends its neck in an S-shaped curve. The whistling, or trumpeting, swans of the genus Olor do not bend the neck in an S-shaped curve, and are noted for their loud and sonorous cry, due to complex convolutions of the windpipe. To this genus belong the European whooper, or whistling swan (Olor cygnus), the American whistling swan (Olor Columbianus), and the trumpeter swan (Olor buccinator). The Australian black swan (Chenopis atrata) is dull black with white on the wings, and has the bill carmine, crossed with a white band. It is a very graceful species and is often domesticated.  The South American black-necked swan (Sthenelides melancorypha) is a very beautiful and graceful species, entirely white, except the head and neck, which are dark velvety seal-brown. Its bill has a double bright rose-colored knob.
 2. Fig.: An appellation for a sweet singer, or a poet noted for grace and melody; as Shakespeare is called the swan of Avon.
 3. Astron. The constellation Cygnus.
 Swan goose Zool., a bird of India (Cygnopsis cygnoides) resembling both the swan and the goose.
 Swan shot, a large size of shot used in fowling.

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