gesticulation

English

Etymology

    From Middle English gesticulation, from Latin gesticulātiō.

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /dʒɛˌstɪkjəˈleɪʃən/
    • Audio (General American):(file)
    • Rhymes: -eɪʃən
    • Hyphenation: ges‧tic‧u‧la‧tion

    Noun

    gesticulation (countable and uncountable, plural gesticulations)

    1. The act of gesticulating, or making gestures to aid expression of thoughts, sentiments or passion.
    2. A gesture; a motion of the body or limbs when speaking, or in representing action or passion, and enforcing arguments and sentiments.
      • 1897 March 13 – June 19, Richard Marsh [pseudonym; Richard Bernard Heldmann], The Beetle (The Adelphi Library; 4), London: T[homas] Fisher Unwin, […], published 1920, →OCLC:
        In the eagerness of his gesticulations, first he knocked off my hat, then he knocked off Lessingham’s, then his own, then all three together […]
      • 1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann:
        It is commonly supposed that they communicated by sounds and tentacular gesticulations; this is asserted, for instance, in the able but hastily compiled pamphlet (written evidently by someone not an eye-witness of Martian actions) to which I have already alluded, and which, so far, has been the chief source of information concerning them.
      • 1929, Robert Dean Frisbee, The Book of Puka-Puka, Eland, published 2019, page 193:
        The breeze had died away and the tree was now quite motionless save when William's statements required forcible gesticulations, which made it sway in a gentle nodding manner as though it were confirming every word the old sage uttered.
    3. (dated) An odd or fanciful motion.
      • 1826, [Mary Shelley], chapter IV, in The Last Man. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 115:
        I indulged in this meditation for a moment, and then again addressed the mourner, who stood leaning against the bed with that expression of resigned despair, of complete misery, and a patient sufferance of it, which is far more touching than any of the insane ravings or wild gesticulation of untamed sorrow.

    Derived terms

    Translations

    References

    Anagrams

    French

    Etymology

    (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Perhaps from Latin gesticulatio?”) From gesticuler +‎ -ation.

    Pronunciation

    Noun

    gesticulation f (plural gesticulations)

    1. gesticulation, movements, gesturing

    Further reading

    Middle English

    Etymology

      From Latin gesticulātiō.

      Noun

      gesticulation (plural gesticulations)

      1. gesticulation
        • 15th-century, Ranulf Higden, John Trevisa, William Caxton, John Malverne, Churchill Babington, Polychronicon Ranulphi Higden maonachi Cestrensis‎[3], volume 2 (quotation in Middle English; overall work in Middle English and Latin), Longmans, Green and Co., published 1865, page 307:
          That bulle was callede Apis, whiche was wonte to swymme ouer the floode callede Nilus, and to schewe thynges to comme thro his gesticulation
          (please add an English translation of this quotation)

      Descendants

      • English: gesticulation

      References

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