gesticulation
/dʒɛˌstɪkjəˈleɪʃən/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: 1.44 in modern English
16
Scrabble Score
13
Letters
5
Syllables
11
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The act of gesticulating, or making gestures to aid expression of thoughts, sentiments or passion.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "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 […]"
- "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."
- "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."
- "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."
Etymology
From Middle English gesticulation, from Latin gesticulatio.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: *h₂eǵ-, gesticulation, gesticulatio