Taciturn
/ˈtæs.ɪ.tɜːrn/noun
Quiet and saying very little.
Did you know?Taciturn is built on Latin *tacere*, “to be silent,” the same ancient root behind *tacit* and *tacitly*—so even its family tree is basically a lineage of unspoken things.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*teh₂k-
“to be silent, keep quiet”
Latin
Latin
tacere
“to be silent”
Latin
Latin
taciturnus
“habitually silent, quiet”
Late Middle English
English
taciturne
“silent, reserved”
Modern English
English
taciturn
“habitually quiet or uncommunicative”