I.v. inch. n., to become dumb, to lose one's speech (syn.: taceo, sileo).
I. Lit.: “qui ebrius obmutuit,” Cels. 2, 6: “cum obmutuerint,” Plin. 27, 12, 104, § 127: “umbrae ejus (hyaenae) contactu canes obmutescere,” lose their voice, their bark, id. 8, 30, 44, § 106; 20, 5, 20, § 40.—
B. Transf., in gen., to be speechless, mute, silent: “ipse obmutescam,” Cic. de Or. 2, 7, 27: “de me ... nulla umquam obmutescat vetustas,” id. Mil. 35, 98: “Aeneas aspectu obmutuit amens,” Verg. A. 4, 279: “dixit pressoque obmutuit ore,” id. ib. 6, 155: “obmutuit illa dolore,” Ov. M. 13, 538.—
II. Trop., to become silent, to cease: “studium nostrum conticuit subito et obmutuit,” Cic. Brut. 94, 324: “animi dolor,” id. Tusc. 2, 21, 50: “Lydium sil nunc obmutuit,” is no longer asked for, Plin. 33, 12, 56, § 160: “dixit mari, obmutesce,” Vulg. Marc. 4, 39.
