Mute \Mute\, a. [L. mutus; cf. Gr. my`ein to shut, Skr. m[=u]ta
   bound, m[=u]ka dumb: cf. OE. muet, fr. F. muet, a dim. of OF.
   mu, L. mutus.]
   1. Not speaking; uttering no sound; silent.
      [1913 Webster]

            All the heavenly choir stood mute,
            And silence was in heaven.            --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: 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]

   2. Incapable of speaking; dumb. --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Not uttered; unpronounced; silent; also, produced by
      complete closure of the mouth organs which interrupt the
      passage of breath; -- said of certain letters. See 5th
      Mute, 2.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. Not giving a ringing sound when struck; -- said of a
      metal.
      [1913 Webster]

   Mute swan (Zool.), a European wild white swan (Cygnus
      olor syn. Cygnus gibbus), which produces no loud notes,
      in distinction from the Trumpeter swan.
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: Silent; dumb; speechless.

   Usage: Mute, Silent, Dumb. One is silent who does not
          speak; one is dumb who can not, for want of the proper
          organs; as, a dumb beast, etc.; and hence,
          figuratively, we speak of a person as struck dumb with
          astonishment, etc. One is mute who is held back from
          speaking by some special cause; as, he was mute
          through fear; mute astonishment, etc. Such is the case
          with most of those who never speak from childhood;
          they are not ordinarily dumb, but mute because they
          are deaf, and therefore never learn to talk; and hence
          their more appropriate name is deaf-mutes.
          [1913 Webster]

                They spake not a word;
                But, like dumb statues, or breathing stones,
                Gazed each on other.              --Shak.
          [1913 Webster]

                All sat mute,
                Pondering the danger with deep thoughts.
                                                  --Milton.
          [1913 Webster]

Swan \Swan\ (sw[o^]n), n. [AS. swan; akin to D. zwaan, OHG.
   swan, G. schwan, Icel. svanr, Sw. svan, Dan. svane; and
   perhaps to E. sound something audible.]
   1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of large aquatic birds
      belonging to Cygnus, Olor, and allied genera of the
      subfamily Cygninae. They have a large and strong beak
      and a long neck, and are noted for their graceful
      movements when swimming. Most of the northern species are
      white. In literature the swan was fabled to sing a
      melodious song, especially at the time of its death.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: The European white, or mute, swan (Cygnus gibbus),
         which is most commonly domesticated, bends its neck in
         an S-shaped curve. The whistling, or trumpeting, swans
         of the genus Olor do not bend the neck in an S-shaped
         curve, and are noted for their loud and sonorous cry,
         due to complex convolutions of the windpipe. To this
         genus belong the European whooper, or whistling swan
         (Olor cygnus), the American whistling swan (Olor
         Columbianus), and the trumpeter swan (Olor
         buccinator). The Australian black swan (Chenopis
         atrata) is dull black with white on the wings, and has
         the bill carmine, crossed with a white band. It is a
         very graceful species and is often domesticated. The
         South American black-necked swan (Sthenelides
         melancorypha) is a very beautiful and graceful
         species, entirely white, except the head and neck,
         which are dark velvety seal-brown. Its bill has a
         double bright rose-colored knob.
         [1913 Webster]

   2. Fig.: An appellation for a sweet singer, or a poet noted
      for grace and melody; as Shakespeare is called the swan of
      Avon.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Astron.) The constellation Cygnus.
      [1913 Webster]

   Swan goose (Zool.), a bird of India (Cygnopsis cygnoides)
      resembling both the swan and the goose.

   Swan shot, a large size of shot used in fowling.
      [1913 Webster]