Mute

/mjuːt/ adjective

Definition

Unable or unwilling to speak, or to silence or reduce the sound of something.

Etymology

From Latin 'mutus' meaning silent or speechless. The word has remained relatively unchanged since ancient Roman times, and can function as both an adjective describing silence and a verb describing the act of silencing.

Kelly Says

In Shakespeare's time, 'mute' characters in plays would often communicate through gesture and expression, proving that humans can tell powerful stories without words—and today our 'mute button' evolved from the same concept of choosing silence.

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