from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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.
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All the heavenly choir stood mute,
And silence was in heaven. --Milton.
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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.
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2. Incapable of speaking; dumb. --Dryden.
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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.
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4. Not giving a ringing sound when struck; -- said of a
metal.
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{Mute swan} (Zool.), a European wild white swan ({Cygnus
olor} syn. {Cygnus gibbus}), which produces no loud notes,
in distinction from the {Trumpeter swan}.
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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.
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They spake not a word;
But, like dumb statues, or breathing stones,
Gazed each on other. --Shak.
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All sat mute,
Pondering the danger with deep thoughts.
--Milton.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Swan \Swan\ (sw[o^]n), n. [AS. swan; akin to D. zwaan, OHG.
swan, G. schwan, Icel. svanr, Sw. svan, Dan. svane; and
perhaps to E. sound something audible.]
1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of large aquatic birds
belonging to {Cygnus}, {Olor}, and allied genera of the
subfamily {Cygninae}. They have a large and strong beak
and a long neck, and are noted for their graceful
movements when swimming. Most of the northern species are
white. In literature the swan was fabled to sing a
melodious song, especially at the time of its death.
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Note: The European white, or mute, swan ({Cygnus gibbus}),
which is most commonly domesticated, bends its neck in
an S-shaped curve. The whistling, or trumpeting, swans
of the genus {Olor} do not bend the neck in an S-shaped
curve, and are noted for their loud and sonorous cry,
due to complex convolutions of the windpipe. To this
genus belong the European whooper, or whistling swan
({Olor cygnus}), the American whistling swan ({Olor
Columbianus}), and the trumpeter swan ({Olor
buccinator}). The Australian black swan ({Chenopis
atrata}) is dull black with white on the wings, and has
the bill carmine, crossed with a white band. It is a
very graceful species and is often domesticated. The
South American black-necked swan ({Sthenelides
melancorypha}) is a very beautiful and graceful
species, entirely white, except the head and neck,
which are dark velvety seal-brown. Its bill has a
double bright rose-colored knob.
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2. Fig.: An appellation for a sweet singer, or a poet noted
for grace and melody; as Shakespeare is called the swan of
Avon.
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3. (Astron.) The constellation Cygnus.
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{Swan goose} (Zool.), a bird of India ({Cygnopsis cygnoides})
resembling both the swan and the goose.
{Swan shot}, a large size of shot used in fowling.
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