without saying a word
Set phrase meaning completely silent, not uttering a single word. Often used in narrative or descriptive contexts.
He left the room without saying a word.
She nodded without saying a word.
Variant with ひと言 for 一言, common in everyday writing.
Compound of 一言 (ひとこと, 'a single word') + も (inclusive particle) + 言わず (negative continuative of 言う, 'to say'). The phrase literally means 'not saying even one word'.