'Silent partner' definitions:

Definition of 'silent partner'

noun

A partner (who usually provides capital) whose association with the enterprise is not public knowledge [syn: silent partner, sleeping partner]

From: GCIDE

Silent \Si"lent\, a. [L. silens, -entis, p. pr. of silere to be silent; akin to Goth. ana-silan.]
1. Free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet. [1913 Webster]
How silent is this town! --Shak. [1913 Webster]
2. Not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn; not loquacious; not talkative. [1913 Webster]
Ulysses, adds he, was the most eloquent and most silent of men. --Broome. [1913 Webster]
This new-created world, whereof in hell Fame is not silent. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
3. Keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed; as, the wind is silent. --Parnell. Sir W. Raleigh. [1913 Webster]
4. (Pron.) Not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent; as, e is silent in "fable." [1913 Webster]
5. Having no effect; not operating; inefficient. [R.] [1913 Webster]
Cause . . . silent, virtueless, and dead. --Sir W. Raleigh. [1913 Webster]
Silent partner. See Dormant partner, under Dormant. [1913 Webster]
Syn: Mute; taciturn; dumb; speechless; quiet; still. See Mute, and Taciturn. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Partner \Part"ner\ (p[aum]rt"n[~e]r), n. [For parcener, influenced by part.]
1. One who has a part in anything with an other; a partaker; an associate; a sharer. "Partner of his fortune." --Shak. Hence: (a) A husband or a wife. (b) Either one of a couple who dance together. (c) One who shares as a member of a partnership in the management, or in the gains and losses, of a business. [1913 Webster]
My other self, the partner of my life. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
2. (Law) An associate in any business or occupation; a member of a partnership. See Partnership. [1913 Webster]
3. pl. (Naut.) A framework of heavy timber surrounding an opening in a deck, to strengthen it for the support of a mast, pump, capstan, or the like. [1913 Webster]
Dormant partner, or Silent partner. See under Dormant, a. [1913 Webster]
Syn: Associate; colleague; coadjutor; confederate; partaker; participator; companion; comrade; mate. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Dormancy \Dor"man*cy\, n. [From Dormant.] The state of being dormant; quiescence; abeyance. [1913 Webster]
It is by lying dormant a long time, or being . . . very rarely exercised, that arbitrary power steals upon a people. --Burke. [1913 Webster]
2. (Her.) In a sleeping posture; as, a lion dormant; -- distinguished from couchant. [1913 Webster]
Dormant partner (Com.), a partner who takes no share in the active business of a company or partnership, but is entitled to a share of the profits, and subject to a share in losses; -- called also sleeping partner or {silent partner}.
Dormant window (Arch.), a dormer window. See Dormer.
Table dormant, a stationary table. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]