See Also: silentiary(dictionary)

silentiary (iou)



silentiary noun. E17.
[Latin silentiarius (orig.) a trusted or confidential domestic servant, (later) a privy counsellor of the Roman Empire, from silentium SILENCE noun: see -ARY1.]
A person who observes or advises silence, esp. as a religious discipline. E17.
An official of the Byzantine court whose duty orig. was to maintain silence and order, but who freq. acted as a confidential adviser or agent (now Hist.); any official whose duty is to maintain silence and order. L17