taciturnity
nounEtymology From Middle English taciturnite, or alternatively from taciturn + -ity; both ultimately from Latin taciturnitās.
1
The trait of being taciturn.
- Humphries broke out more freely into speech than he had done before, for his usual characteristic was that of taciturnity.1835, William Gilmore Simms, The Partisan, Harper, Chapter VI, page 69:
- Gernois’ cordiality was short-lived. No sooner had they ridden out of sight of Captain Gerard and his men than he lapsed once more into his accustomed taciturnity.1913, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Return of Tarzan, New York: Ballantine Books, published 1963, page 78:
2 more examples
- "[…]and as Mr. H., with his long purse and his willingness to receive hints, is no bad card in the game, he has been brought up to Abbotsford for a week; his taciturnity has long ago fled, and he is one of the most loquacious Borderers going. […]"1951 February, Michael Robbins, “Sir Walter Scott and Two Early Railway Schemes”, in Railway Magazine, page 90:
- Once he is back on the bench, will Justice Thomas revert to his usual taciturnity?2021 May 3, Adam Liptak, “Justice Clarence Thomas, Long Silent, Has Turned Talkative”, in The New York Times: