taciturnity

2 definitions found

taciturnity - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Taciturnity \Tac`i*tur"ni*ty\, n. [L. taciturnitas: cf. F.
     taciturnit['e].]
     Habitual silence, or reserve in speaking.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           The cause of Addison's taciturnity was a natural
           diffidence in the company of strangers.  --V. Knox.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           The taciturnity and the short answers which gave so
           much offense.                            --Macaulay.
     [1913 Webster]

taciturnity - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  taciturnity
      n 1: the trait of being uncommunicative; not volunteering
           anything more than necessary [syn: reserve, reticence,
           taciturnity]