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Webster 1913 Edition


Eloquence

El′o-quence

,
Noun.
[F.
éloquence
, L.
eloquentia
, fr.
eloquens
. See
Eloquent
.]
1.
Fluent, forcible, elegant, and persuasive speech in public; the power of expressing strong emotions in striking and appropriate language either spoken or written, thereby producing conviction or persuasion.
Eloquence
is speaking out . . . out of the abundance of the heart.
Hare.
2.
Fig.: Whatever produces the effect of moving and persuasive speech.
Silence that spoke and
eloquence
of eyes.
Pope.
The hearts of men are their books; events are their tutors; great actions are their
eloquence
.
Macaulay.
3.
That which is eloquently uttered or written.
Syn. – Oratory; rhetoric.

Webster 1828 Edition


Eloquence

EL'OQUENCE

,
Noun.
[L. eloquentia, from eloquor, loquor, to speak; Gr. to crack, to sound, to speak. The primary sense is probably to burst with a sound; a fissure, from the same root; whence, to open or split; whence L. lacero, to tear; and hence perhaps Eng. a leak.]
1.
Oratory; the act or the art of speaking well, or with fluency and elegance. Eloquence comprehends a good elocution or utterance; correct; appropriate and rich expressions, with fluency, animation and suitable action. Hence eloquence is adapted to please, affect and persuade. Demosthenes in Greece, Cicero in Rome, lord Chatham and Burke in Great Britain, were distinguished for their eloquence in declamation, debate or argument.
2.
The power of speaking with fluency and elegance.
3.
Elegant language, uttered with fluency and animation.
She uttereth piercing eloquence.
4.
It is sometimes applied to written language.

Definition 2024


eloquence

eloquence

See also: éloquence

English

Noun

eloquence (countable and uncountable, plural eloquences)

  1. The quality of artistry and persuasiveness in speech or writing.

Derived terms

Translations


Middle French

Noun

eloquence f (uncountable)

  1. eloquence (quality of being eloquent)