Mute , n.
1. One who
does not speak, whether from physical inability, unwillingness, or other cause. Specifically: (a) One who, from deafness, either congenital or from early life, is unable to use
articulate language;
a deaf-mute. (b)
A person employed by undertakers at a
funeral. (c) A person whose part in a play does not
require him to speak. (d) Among the Turks, an officer or attendant who is selected for his place because he can not speak.
2. (Phon.)
A letter which represents no sound; a silent letter; also, a close
articulation; an element of speech formed by a position
of the mouth organs which stops the passage of the breath; as, p, b, d, k, t.
3. (Mus.) A little utensil made of brass, ivory, or other material, so formed that it can be fixed in an erect position on the bridge
of a violin,
or similar instrument, in order to deaden or soften the tone.
Mute , a. [L. mutus; cf. Gr. &?; to shut, Skr. m&?;ta bound, m&?;ka dumb: cf. OE. muet,
fr. F. muet, a dim. of OF.
mu, L. mutus.]
1.
Not speaking; uttering
no sound; silent.
All the heavenly choir stood mute,
And silence was in heaven.
Milton. &fist; 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.
2.
Incapable of speaking; dumb.
Dryden.
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.
4. Not giving a
ringing sound when struck; -- said of a metal.
Mute swan (Zoöl.), a European wild white swan (Cygnus gibbus), which produces no loud notes.
Syn.
-- Silent; dumb; speechless. -- 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.
They spake not a word;
But, like dumb statues, or breathing stones,
Gazed each on other.
Shak. All sat mute,
Pondering the danger with deep thoughts.
Milton.
Mute , n. The dung of
birds. Hudibras.
Mute , v. t. &
i. [F. mutir,
émeutir, OF. esmeltir, fr. OD. smelten, prop., to melt. See
Smelt.]
To eject the contents of the bowels; -- said of birds. B. Jonson.
Mute (mūt),
v. t. [L. mutare to change. See Molt.]
To cast off; to molt.
Have I muted all my feathers?
Beau. & Fl.
Hear it pronounced