Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MUTE, a. [L. mutus; W. mûd; Fr. muet; It. muto; Sp. mudo; Ir. muite; Arm. mud or simudet.]

1. Silent; not speaking; not uttering words, or not having the power of utterance; dumb. Mute may express temporary silence, or permanent inability to speak. To the mute my speech is lost. – Dryden. In this phrase, it denotes unable to utter words. More generally, it denotes temporarily silent; as, all sat mute. All the heavenly choir stood mute. – Milton.
2. Uttering no sound; as, mute sorrow.
3. Silent; not pronounced; as, a mute letter.