Word of the Day - 12/10/25
elocution
/,ɛlə'kjuʃən/(n.): an expert manner of speaking involving control of voice and gesture
The toastmaster's elocution was so impeccable, even the most stubborn attendee leaned in, captivated by his perfectly modulated vowels and expressive hand gestures.
Word Origin
The word 'elocution' originates from the Latin word 'elocutio', meaning 'a speaking out' or 'delivery'. This in turn comes from the verb 'eloqui', which means 'to speak out'. The word can be broken down into its Latin parts: 'e-' (a variant of 'ex-') meaning 'out' or 'from', and 'loqui' meaning 'to speak'.
Words with similar origins stemming from the Latin root 'loqui' (to speak) include 'loquacious' (talkative), 'colloquial' (relating to ordinary conversation), 'soliloquy' (a speech delivered by one person alone), 'interlocutor' (a person who takes part in a dialogue or conversation), 'circumlocution' (the use of many words where fewer would do, often to be evasive), and 'grandiloquent' (pompous or extravagant in language).