Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Nearby Words

glossolalia

 - 6 dictionary results

glos⋅so⋅la⋅li⋅a

  [glos-uh-ley-lee-uh, glaw-suh-]
Use glossolalia in a Sentence
–noun
incomprehensible speech in an imaginary language, sometimes occurring in a trance state, an episode of religious ecstasy, or schizophrenia.

Origin:
1875–80; glosso- + -lalia

Related forms:
glos⋅sol⋅a⋅list  [glo-sol-uh-list, glaw-] , noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To glossolalia
gift of tongues  
n.  The ability or phenomenon to utter words or sounds of a language unknown to the speaker, especially as an expression of religious ecstasy. Also called glossolalia, speaking in tongues.

[From the Apostles' speaking in tongues in Acts 2:4.]
glos·so·la·li·a   (glô'sə-lā'lē-ə, glŏs'ə-)   
n.  

  1. Fabricated and nonmeaningful speech, especially such speech associated with a trance state or certain schizophrenic syndromes.

  2. See gift of tongues.


[New Latin : Greek glōssa, tongue + Greek lalein, to babble.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

glossolalia 
"speaking in tongues," 1879, from Gk. glossa "tongue, language" + lalia "a speaking," from lalein "to speak, prattle," of echoic origin.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: glos·so·la·lia
Pronunciation: "gläs-&-'lA-lE-&, "glos-
Function: noun
: profuse and often emotionally chargedspeech that mimics coherent speech but is usually unintelligible to the listener and that is uttered in some states of religious ecstasy and in some schizophrenic states
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

glossolalia glos·so·la·li·a (glô'sə-lā'lē-ə)
n.
Fabricated, nonmeaningful speech, especially associated with trances or certain schizophrenic syndromes.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see glossolalia on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way