a. [ L. mutus; cf. Gr.
All the heavenly choir stood mute,
And silence was in heaven. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]
Mute swan (Zool.),
But, like dumb statues, or breathing stones,
Gazed each on other. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
Pondering the danger with deep thoughts. Milton.
n.
v. t. [ L. mutare to change. See Molt. ] To cast off; to molt. [ 1913 Webster ]
Have I muted all my feathers? Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. & i. [ F. mutir, émeutir, OF. esmeltir, fr. OD. smelten, prop., to melt. See Smelt. ] To eject the contents of the bowels; -- said of birds. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The dung of birds. Hudibras. [ 1913 Webster ]
adj.
n. See Moot-hill. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. Without uttering words or sounds; in a mute manner; silently. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The quality or state of being mute; speechlessness. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Turk. & Ar. muteçarif freely disposing of anything, master. ] In Turkey prior to the revolution, an administrative authority of any of certain sanjaks. They were appointed directly by the Sultan. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]