GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found 4 definitions

  1.       
    Hush (hŭsh), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hushed (hŭsht); p. pr. & vb. n. Hushing.] [OE. huschen, hussen, prob. of imitative origin; cf. LG. hussen to lull to sleep, G. husch quick, make haste, be silent.]
    1. To still; to silence; to calm; to make quiet; to repress the noise or clamor of.

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    My tongue shall hush again this storm of war. Shak.

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    2. To appease; to allay; to calm; to soothe.

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    With thou, then,

    Hush my cares? Otway.

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    And hush'd my deepest grief of all. Tennyson.

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    To hush up, to procure silence concerning; to suppress; to keep secret. “This matter is hushed up.” Pope.

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  2.       
    Hush, v. i. To become or to keep still or quiet; to become silent; -- esp. used in the imperative, as an exclamation; be still; be silent or quiet; make no noise.

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    Hush, idle words, and thoughts of ill. Keble.

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    But all these strangers' presence every one did hush. Spenser.

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  3.       
    Hush, n. Stillness; silence; quiet. [R.] “It is the hush of night.”  Byron.

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    Hush money, money paid to secure silence, or to prevent the disclosure of facts. Swift.

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  4.       
    Hush, a. Silent; quiet. “Hush as death.”  Shak.

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