taciturnity

noun

tac·​i·​tur·​ni·​ty

-ətē, 

-i

plural -es

1

: the quality or state of being taciturn:

a

: inclination to spare, curt, or laconic speech : reticence

the taciturnity and the short answers which gave so much offense

—T. B. Macaulay

b

: lack of expressiveness : reserve

tight-lipped they endure their fates and we are the losers from their numb taciturnity

—Anthony Quinton

2

Scots law

a

: such failure to assert a legal right as implies that there has been satisfaction or abandonment of it

b

: the plea of mora and taciturnity setting up such failure

Word History

Etymology

Middle English taciturnite, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French taciturnité, from Latin taciturnitat-, taciturnitas, from taciturnus + -itat-, -itas -ity

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Rhymes for taciturnity

• confraternity
• eternity
• fraternity
• maternity
• modernity
• paternity