Mute swan

Mute swan
Mute Mute, a. [L. mutus; cf. Gr. my`ein to shut, Skr. m[=u]ta bound, m[=u]ka dumb: cf. OE. muet, fr. F. muet, a dim. of OF. mu, L. mutus.] 1. Not speaking; uttering no sound; silent. [1913 Webster]

All the heavenly choir stood mute, And silence was in heaven. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Note: In law a prisoner is said to stand mute, when, upon being arranged, he makes no answer, or does not plead directly, or will not put himself on trial. [1913 Webster]

2. Incapable of speaking; dumb. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

3. Not uttered; unpronounced; silent; also, produced by complete closure of the mouth organs which interrupt the passage of breath; -- said of certain letters. See 5th {Mute}, 2. [1913 Webster]

4. Not giving a ringing sound when struck; -- said of a metal. [1913 Webster]

{Mute swan} (Zo["o]l.), a European wild white swan ({Cygnus olor} syn. {Cygnus gibbus}), which produces no loud notes, in distinction from the {Trumpeter swan}. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Silent; dumb; speechless.

Usage: {Mute}, {Silent}, {Dumb}. One is silent who does not speak; one is dumb who can not, for want of the proper organs; as, a dumb beast, etc.; and hence, figuratively, we speak of a person as struck dumb with astonishment, etc. One is mute who is held back from speaking by some special cause; as, he was mute through fear; mute astonishment, etc. Such is the case with most of those who never speak from childhood; they are not ordinarily dumb, but mute because they are deaf, and therefore never learn to talk; and hence their more appropriate name is deaf-mutes. [1913 Webster]

They spake not a word; But, like dumb statues, or breathing stones, Gazed each on other. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

All sat mute, Pondering the danger with deep thoughts. --Milton. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Mute Swan — Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) …   Wikipedia

  • mute swan — mute′ swan′ n. orn a soundless white Eurasian swan, Cygnus olor, widely introduced in other parts of the world • Etymology: 1775–85 …   From formal English to slang

  • mute swan — ► NOUN ▪ the commonest Eurasian swan, having an orange red bill with a black knob at the base …   English terms dictionary

  • mute swan — n. a large, white, usually silent swan (Cygnus olor) with a black knob at the base of its orange bill: originally of the Old World but now present in NE U.S …   English World dictionary

  • mute swan — noun soundless Eurasian swan; commonly domesticated • Syn: ↑Cygnus olor • Hypernyms: ↑swan • Member Holonyms: ↑Cygnus, ↑genus Cygnus * * * noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • Mute Swan — gulbė nebylė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Cygnus olor angl. Mute Swan vok. Höckerschwan …   Paukščių anatomijos terminai

  • mute swan — gulbė nebylė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Cygnus olor angl. mute swan vok. Höckerschwan, m rus. лебедь шипун, m pranc. cygne tuberculé, m ryšiai: platesnis terminas – gulbės …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • mute swan — noun a white swan, Cygnus olor, found throughout Europe and much of Asia, having a distinctive orange bill with a black tip; it is not actually mute, but is not very vocal …   Wiktionary

  • mute swan — a commonly domesticated soundless white swan, Cygnus olor, of Europe and Asia. See illus. under swan. [1775 85] * * * …   Universalium

  • mute swan — noun Date: 1785 a common white swan (Cygnus olor) that produces no loud notes, is native to Europe and western Asia, and has been introduced into parts of the United States …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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