Taciturnity

#585. Taciturnity. -- N. silence, muteness, obmutescence[obs]; taciturnity, pauciloquy[obs], costiveness|, curtness; reserve, reticence &c. (concealment) 528.
• man of few words.
• V. be silent &c. adj .; keep silence, keep mum; hold one's tongue, hold one's peace, hold one's jaw; not speak. &c. 582; say nothing, keep one's counsel; seal the lips, close the lips, button the lips, zipper the lips, put a padlock on the lips, put a padlock on the mouth; put a bridle on one's tongue; bite one's tongue, keep one's tongue between one's teeth; make no sign, not let a word escape one; keep a secret &c. 528; not have a word to say; hush up, hush, lay the finger on the lips, place the finger on the lips; render mute &c. 581.
• stick in one's throat.
• Adj. silent, mute, mum; silent as a post, silent as a stone, silent as the grave &c. (still) 403; dumb &c. 581; unconversable[obs].
• taciturn, sparing of words; closetongued; costive|, inconversable|, curt; reserved; reticent &c. (concealing) 528.
• Int. shush! tush! silence! mum! hush! chut[obs]! hist! tut! chup[obs]! mum's the word; keep your mouth shut![vulgar].
• Phr. cave quid dicis quando et cui[Lat]; volto sciolto i pensieri stretti[It].

This definition is from Roget's Thesaurus.
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