hush

[huhsh] /hʌʃ/
interjection
1.
(used as a command to be silent or quiet.)
verb (used without object)
2.
to become or be silent or quiet:
They hushed as the judge walked in.
verb (used with object)
3.
to make silent; silence.
4.
to suppress mention of; keep concealed (often followed by up):
They hushed up the scandal.
5.
to calm, quiet, or allay:
to hush someone's fears.
noun
6.
silence or quiet, especially after noise.
7.
Phonetics. either of the sibilant sounds (sh) and (zh).
adjective
8.
Archaic. silent; quiet.
Origin
1350-1400; apparently back formation from husht whist2 (Middle English huissht), the -t being taken for past participle suffix
Related forms
hushedly
[huhsh-id-lee, huhsht-lee] /ˈhʌʃ ɪd li, ˈhʌʃt li/ (Show IPA), adverb
hushful, adjective
hushfully, adverb
unhushing, adjective
Synonyms
6. peace, stillness, tranquillity.
British Dictionary definitions for hush up

hush up

verb
1.
(transitive, adverb) to suppress information or rumours about

hush1

/hʌʃ/
verb
1.
to make or become silent; quieten
2.
to soothe or be soothed
noun
3.
stillness; silence
4.
an act of hushing
interjection
5.
a plea or demand for silence
Derived Forms
hushed, adjective
Word Origin
C16: probably from earlier husht quiet!, the -t being thought to indicate a past participle

hush2

/hʌʃ/
verb (transitive)
1.
to run water over the ground to erode (surface soil), revealing the underlying strata and any valuable minerals present
2.
to wash (an ore) by removing particles of earth with rushing water
noun
3.
a gush of water, esp when artificially produced
Word Origin
C18: of imitative origin
Word Origin and History for hush up

hush

v.

1540s, variant of Middle English huisht (late 14c.), probably of imitative origin, with terminal -t lost probably by being mistaken for a past tense suffix. Hush-hush (adj.) is 1916 reduplication. Related: Hushed; hushing. The noun is attested from 1680s. As an interjection meaning "be quiet," attested by c.1600. To hush (one's) mouth "be quiet" is attested from 1878. Hush up "suppress talk for secrecy's sake" is from 1630s. Hush-money is attested from 1709. Hush-puppy "deep-fried ball of cornmeal batter" first attested 1899; as a type of lightweight soft shoe, it is a proprietary name, registered 1961.

Idioms and Phrases with hush up

hush up

Keep from public knowledge, suppress mention of. For example, They tried to hush up the damaging details. [ First half of 1600s ]