silken

silken
silk NOUN 1) a fine, soft lustrous fibre produced by silkworms. 2) thread or fabric made from silk. 3) (silks) garments made from silk, especially as worn by a jockey. 4) Brit. informal a Queen's (or King's) Counsel. [ORIGIN: so named because of the right accorded to wear a gown made of silk.]
take silk — Cf. ↑take silk
DERIVATIVES silken adjective.
ORIGIN Latin sericus, from Greek Sres, the name given to the inhabitants of the Far Eastern countries from which silk first came overland to Europe.

English terms dictionary. 2015.

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  • Silken — Silk en, a. [AS. seolcen, seolocen.] 1. Of or pertaining to silk; made of, or resembling, silk; as, silken cloth; a silken veil. [1913 Webster] 2. Fig.: Soft; delicate; tender; smooth; as, silken language. Silken terms precise. Shak. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • silken — [sil′kən] adj. [ME < OE seolcen: see SILK & EN] 1. made of silk 2. dressed in silk 3. like silk in appearance, texture, quality, etc.; specif., a) soft, smooth, or glossy b) smooth and ingratiating …   English World dictionary

  • Silken — Silk en, v. t. To render silken or silklike. Dyer. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • silken — O.E. seolcen; see SILK (Cf. silk) + EN (Cf. en) (2) …   Etymology dictionary

  • silken — silken, silky *sleek, slick, glossy, velvety, satiny Analogous words: lustrous, luminous, lambent (see BRIGHT) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • silken — see en adjectives …   Modern English usage

  • silken — [[t]sɪ̱lkən[/t]] 1) ADJ: usu ADJ n Silken is used to describe things that are very pleasantly smooth and soft. [LITERARY] Christabel ran her fingers slowly through her long silken hair. ...her long, silken legs. Syn: silky 2) ADJ: ADJ n A silken… …   English dictionary

  • silken — silk|en [ sılkən ] adjective LITERARY 1. ) very soft, smooth, or shiny: silken hair silken skin 2. ) made of silk: a silken shirt 3. ) very soft and gentle: a silken voice …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • silken — UK [ˈsɪlkən] / US adjective literary 1) very soft, smooth, or shiny silken hair silken skin 2) made of silk a silken shirt 3) very soft and gentle a silken voice …   English dictionary

  • silken — adjective Date: before 12th century 1. made or consisting of silk 2. resembling silk: as a. soft, lustrous b. (1) agreeably smooth ; harmonious < a silken voice > (2) suave, ingratiating …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • silken — silk|en [ˈsılkən] adj [usually before noun] literary 1.) soft, smooth, and shiny like silk ▪ her silken hair 2.) made of silk ▪ a silken handkerchief …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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