To make quiet or silent; to calm or soothe someone, especially a crying child.
From Middle English 'husshen', likely imitative of the sound made when shushing someone. The word emerged in the 16th century as an onomatopoeia, directly representing the quieting sound.
Hush is one of those perfect words where sound and meaning align—the soft 'sh' sound naturally suggests quietness and creates the very effect it describes. It's fascinating how this simple sound transcends language barriers, as similar shushing sounds appear in cultures worldwide.
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