Where does the word silence originate from?

The word "silence" has a fascinating history, tracing back to the Latin word "silentium". This Latin word itself has roots in the Indo-European language, specifically the Proto-Indo-European word "*seḱw-", meaning "to follow."

Here's how the word evolved:

1. "*seḱw-" (Proto-Indo-European) - meaning "to follow"

2. "secul-" (Latin) - meaning "to follow" or "to accompany"

3. "silentium" (Latin) - meaning "a following, an accompanying"

Over time, the meaning of "silentium" shifted from "following" to "quietness" or "stillness." This shift likely occurred because "following" could be associated with being quiet and observing someone or something without making a sound.

The word "silence" then entered English from Old French, which borrowed it from Latin.

Therefore, while "silence" seems to refer to the absence of sound, its origin lies in the idea of "following" and staying quiet, perhaps as a way to observe or accompany someone without disrupting them.