Si·lence, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Silenced p. pr. & vb. n. Silencing ]
1. To compel to silence; to cause to be still; to still; to hush.
Silence that dreadful bell; it frights the isle. --Shak.
2. To put to rest; to quiet.
This would silence all further opposition. --Clarendon.
These would have silenced their scruples. --Rogers.
3. To restrain from the exercise of any function, privilege of instruction, or the like, especially from the act of preaching; as, to silence a minister of the gospel.
The Rev. Thomas Hooker of Chelmsford, in Essex, was silenced for nonconformity. --B. Trumbull.
4. To cause to cease firing, as by a vigorous cannonade; as, to silence the batteries of an enemy.
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silenced
adj : reduced to silence; "the silenced crowd waited expectantly"
[ant: unsilenced]