Silent or reserved in speech; saying little; not inclined to speak or converse. Expostulatory words crowd to my lips. From a taciturn man, I believe she would transform me into a talker. Charlotte Bronté, Shirley, xxix.
SynonymsMute, Dumb (see silent), reserved, uncommunicative, reticent.
In his ordinary intercourse with his friends and counselors his Majesty manifested much coldness of manner; he became taciturn, and entire hours passed without any one present having the courage to begin a conversation.
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Recollections of the private life of Napoleon
For one supposed to be stolid and taciturn, the Indian makes a good deal of noise at times.
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Last of the Great Scouts The Life Story of William F Cody
Boone remained taciturn, his clear, eagle-eye scanning the palisade, and the direction from which the savages would be most likely to come.
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Wild Western Scenes
But he was taciturn, and rarely spoke even to his own family, and spent on them almost less money than words.
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The Love Affairs of Great Musicians
Dr. Xia became increasingly taciturn, and she instinctively avoided him.
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WILD SWANS THREE DAUGHTERS OF CHINA