taciturn
TAS-ih-turnadjMeaning quiet by habit; saying very little
Memory hook TACIT TURN: his turn, and silence. Around the campfire everyone takes a turn telling a story. When it is Omar’s turn, he just smiles and pokes the fire. He is taciturn.
Her taciturn uncle spoke perhaps ten words during the whole holiday dinner.
In context In class Dev was taciturn, rarely raising his hand or chatting, yet his notebooks were full of sharp ideas and funny drawings.
Similar quiet, reserved, silent, reticent
Opposite talkative, garrulous, voluble
From Latin taciturnus, from tacitus, “silent,” the root of tacit.