\Ret"i*cence\, n. [L. reticentia: cf. F. r['e]ticence.] 1. The quality or state of being reticent, or keeping silence; the state of holding one's tonque; refraining to speak of that which is suggested; uncommunicativeness. Such fine reserve and noble reticence. --Tennyson. 2. (Rhet.) A figure by which a person really speaks of a thing while he makes a show as if he would say nothingon the subject.