glossolalia

[ glos-uh-ley-lee-uh, glaw-suh- ]

noun
  1. incomprehensible speech in an imaginary language, sometimes occurring in a trance state, an episode of religious ecstasy, or schizophrenia.

Origin of glossolalia

1
First recorded in 1875–80; glosso- + -lalia

Other words from glossolalia

  • glos·sol·a·list [glo-sol-uh-list, glaw-], /glɒˈsɒl ə lɪst, glɔ-/, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for glossolalia

glossolalia

/ (ˌɡlɒsəˈleɪlɪə) /


noun
  1. another term for gift of tongues

  2. psychol babbling in a nonexistent language

Origin of glossolalia

1
C19: New Latin, from glosso- + Greek lalein to speak, babble

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012