Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The state of being mute; dumbness; forbearance from speaking, or inability to speak.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The quality or state of being mute; speechlessness.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The characteristic of being mute.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a refusal to speak when expected
  • noun the condition of being unable or unwilling to speak

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • She does it because she has fallen in love with a human prince, but since he can only recognize her by her beautiful singing voice, her muteness is a problem.

    The science of fairy tales ewillett 2008

  • The tidal wave of muteness is thought to have been caused by a post published this morning by Peter Black.

    Archive 2009-09-01 2009

  • The tidal wave of muteness is thought to have been caused by a post published this morning by Peter Black.

    After the sound of silence 2009

  • It's a cast of the inside part of a library, so it's all about silence and muteness, which is what happened.

    The Art Of Honoring The Dead 2007

  • Unless, thought Cadfael doubtfully, his muteness was a new-come thing in recent years, from some constriction of the cords of the tongue or the sinews of the throat?

    An Excellent Mystery Peters, Ellis, 1913- 1985

  • Unless, thought Cadfael doubtfully, his muteness was a new-come thing in recent years, from some constriction of the cords of the tongue or the sinews of the throat?

    An Excellent Mystery Peters, Ellis, 1913- 1985

  • Her muteness is a desperate appeal for help - to be deported and sent home.

    Political Affairs Magazine 2009

  • Her muteness is a desperate appeal for help - to be deported and sent home.

    Political Affairs Magazine 2009

  • His notion would seem to have been that a husband was bound not to dismiss his wife, except for a reason really sufficient; such as a thoroughly incompatible temper, an incorrigible "muteness," and a desertion like that of Mrs. Milton.

    Harvard Classics Volume 28 Essays English and American Various

  • And so -- the rest is silence, and what of work we may still do will be done in that dogged muteness which is the lot of advancing years.

    Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works John Galsworthy 1900

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