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word of doubtful meaning, occuring frequently in the Psalms; by some, supposed to signify silence or a pause in the musical performance of the song. Beyond the fact that Selach is a musical term, we know absolutely nothing about it. Dr. W. Smith (Bib. Dict.)

That which is silent; a time of silence. [R.] "The silent of the night." Shak.

One appointed to keep silence and order in court; also, one sworn not to divulge secre

State of being silent; silence.

Made of silver. [Archaic.] Wyclif (Acts xix. 24). Speech is silvern; silence is golden. Old Proverb.

See Sneck. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Snick up, shut up; silenced. See Sneck up, under Sneck. Give him money, George, and let him go snick up. Beau & Fl.

mitigate and swage With solemn touches troubled thoughts. Milton. There reigned a solemn silence over all. Spenser.

To break silence or secrecy for fear of pain or punishment; to speak; to confess. [Colloq.] If he be obstinate, put a civil question to him upon the rack, and he squeaks, I warrant him. Dryden.

To quell; to crush; to silence or put down. [Colloq.] Oh 't was your luck and mine to be squelched. Beau. & Fl. If you deceive us you will be squelched. Carlyle.

Full of state; stately. [Obs.] "A stateful silence." Marston.

Freedom from noise; calm; silence; as, the still of midnight. [Poetic]

The quality or state of being still; quietness; silence; calmness; inactivity. Painting, then, was the art demanded by the modern intellect upon its emergence from the stillness of the Middle Ages. J. A. Symonds.

Submissive; humble; obsequious. [Archaic] "Soft Silence and submiss Obedience." Spenser. "Stooping and submiss." R. L. Stevenson.

Done or made in silence; implied, but not expressed; silent; as, tacit consent is consent by silence, or by not interposing an objection. -- Tac"it*ly, adv. The tacit and secret theft of abusing our brother in civil contracts. Jer. Taylor.

Habilual silence, or reserve in speaking. The cause of Addison's taciturnity was a natural diffidence in the company of strangers. V. Knox. The taciturnity and the short answers which gave so much offense. Macaulay.

, a tenable argument. If you have hitherto concealed his sight, Let it be tenable in your silence still. Shak. I would be the last man in the world to give up his cause when it was tenable. Sir W. Scott.

sentence expressing a wish, or a cause of surprise, indignation, or the like. Ha, cousin Silence, that thou hadst seen that that this knight and I have seen! Shak. O God, that right should thus overcome might! Shak.

en, during many years, the grave and decorous usage of Parliaments to hear, in respectful silence, all expressions, acceptable or unacceptable, which are uttered from the throne. Macaulay.

ounce; to divulge; as, to voice the sentiments of the nation. "Rather assume thy right in silence and . . . then voice it with claims and challenges." Bacon. It was voiced that the king purposed to put to death Edward Plantagenet. Bacon.

or to laugh. Mitford. And eyes that wake to weep. Mrs. Hemans. And they wept together in silence. Longfellow.