Tachylyte
(Tach"y*lyte) n. [Gr. tachy`s quick + to dissolve.] (Min.) A vitreous form of basalt; — so
called because decomposable by acids and readily fusible.
Tacit
(Tac"it) a. [L. tacitus, p. p. of tacere to be silent, to pass over in silence; akin to Goth. þahan
to be silent, Icel. þegja, OHG. dagen: cf. F. tacite. Cf. Reticent.] Done or made in silence; implied,
but not expressed; silent; as, tacit consent is consent by silence, or by not interposing an objection. —
Tac"it*ly, adv.
The tacit and secret theft of abusing our brother in civil contracts.
Jer. Taylor. Taciturn
(Tac"i*turn) a. [L. taciturnus: cf. F. taciturne. See Tacit.] Habitually silent; not given to converse; not
apt to talk or speak. — Tac"i*turn*ly, adv.
Syn. — Silent; reserved. Taciturn, Silent. Silent has reference to the act; taciturn, to the habit. A
man may be silent from circumstances; he is taciturn from disposition. The loquacious man is at times
silent; one who is taciturn may now and then make an effort at conversation.
Taciturnity
(Tac`i*tur"ni*ty) n. [L. taciturnitas: cf. F. taciturnité.] Habilual silence, or reserve in speaking.
The cause of Addison's taciturnity was a natural diffidence in the company of strangers.
V. Knox.
The taciturnity and the short answers which gave so much offense.
Macaulay. Tack
(Tack) n. [From an old or dialectal form of F. tache. See Techy.]
1. A stain; a tache. [Obs.]
2. [Cf. L. tactus.] A peculiar flavor or taint; as, a musty tack. [Obs. or Colloq.] Drayton.
Tack
(Tack), n. [OE. tak, takke, a fastening; akin to D. tak a branch, twig, G. zacke a twig, prong,
spike, Dan. takke a tack, spike; cf. also Sw. tagg prickle, point, Icel. tag a willow twig, Ir. taca a
peg, nail, fastening, Gael. tacaid, Armor. & Corn. tach; perhaps akin to E. take. Cf. Attach, Attack,
Detach, Tag an end, Zigzag.]
1. A small, short, sharp-pointed nail, usually having a broad, flat head.
2. That which is attached; a supplement; an appendix. See Tack, v. t., 3. Macaulay.
Some tacks had been made to money bills in King Charles's time.
Bp. Burnet.
3. (Naut.) (a) A rope used to hold in place the foremost lower corners of the courses when the vessel
is closehauled (see Illust. of Ship); also, a rope employed to pull the lower corner of a studding sail
to the boom. (b) The part of a sail to which the tack is usually fastened; the foremost lower corner of
fore-and-aft sails, as of schooners (c) The direction of a vessel in regard to the trim of her sails; as,
the starboard tack, or port tack; — the former when she is closehauled with the wind on her starboard
side; hence, the run of a vessel on one tack; also, a change of direction.
4. (Scots Law) A contract by which the use of a thing is set, or let, for hire; a lease. Burrill.
5. Confidence; reliance. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
Tack of a flag (Naut.), a line spliced into the eye at the foot of the hoist for securing the flag to the
halyards. — Tack pins (Naut.), belaying pins; — also called jack pins. — To haul the tacks aboard
(Naut.), to set the courses. — To hold tack, to last or hold out. Milton.
