MUTE, a. [L. mutus.] 1. Silent; not speaking; not uttering words, or not having the power of utterance; dumb. Mute may express temporary silence, or permanent inability to speak. To the mute my speech is lost.In this phrase, it denotes unable to utter words. More generally, it denotes temporarily silent; as, all sat mute. All the heavenly choir stood mute.2. Uttering no sound; as mute sorrow.3. Silent; not pronounced; as a mute letter.MUTE, n. In law, a person that stands speechless when he ought to answer or plead. 1. In grammar,a letter that represents no sound; a close articulation which intercepts the voice. Mutes are of two kinds, pure and impure. The pure mutes instantly and entirely intercept the voice, as k, p and t, in the syllables ek,ep, et. The impure mutes intercept the voice less suddenly, as the articulations are less close. Such are b,d and g, as in the syllables eb, ed,eg.2. In music, a little utensil of wood or brass, used on a violin to deaden or soften the sounds.MUTE, v.i. To eject the contents of the bowels, a birds. MUTE, n. The dung of fowls.
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