eloquent

adjective

el·​o·​quent ˈe-lə-kwənt 

1

: marked by forceful and fluent expression

an eloquent preacher

2

: vividly or movingly expressive or revealing

an eloquent monument

eloquently adverb

Did you know?

Since eloquent has to do with speaking, it makes sense that it comes from the Latin verb loquī, which means "to talk or speak." (The adjective loquacious describes a person who is skilled at or has the inclination for talking.) Expression of the self can be seen and not heard, which gives meaning to eloquent as an adjective for nonverbal impressive acts.

Synonyms

• articulate
• fluent
• silver-tongued
• well-spoken

Examples of eloquent in a Sentence

He [H. L. Mencken] relished the vagaries of vernacular speech and paid eloquent homage to them in The American Language. —Jackson Lears, New Republic, 27 Jan. 2003

Samuel Johnson is palmed off in classrooms as a harmless drudge of a lexicographer, yet open the Dictionary anywhere and find precision and eloquent plainness. —Guy Davenport, The Geography of the Imagination, (1954) 1981

There was a burst of applause, and a deep silence which was even more eloquent than the applause. —Thomas Hardy, The Mayor of Casterbridge, 1886

His success serves as an eloquent reminder of the value of hard work.

an eloquent writer and speaker, Elizabeth Cady Stanton was one of the founders of the women's rights movement

Recent Examples on the Web

Overall, there were enough meme-worthy moments, eloquent speeches and genuine surprises to justify the roughly three-and-a-half-hour show. —Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 11 Mar. 2024

Hers is one of those stories that has been told for thousands of years by some of the most skilled and eloquent composers, from Apollonius to Euripides. —Diya Chacko, Orange County Register, 13 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin ēloquent-, ēloquens "capable of speech, expressing oneself fluently," from present participle of ēloquī "to utter, put into words," from ē- e- entry 1 + loquī "to talk, speak," probably going back to dialectal Indo-European *tlok^w- "talk," whence also Old Irish ad-tluichethar "(s/he) gives thanks" (originally with buide "thanks" as object, as in atluchedar buidi do Día "he thanks God"), do-tluichethar "(s/he) desires, beseeches, asks," Old Church Slavic tlŭk "interpreter" (from *tl̥k^w-o-)

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing eloquent

• wax eloquent

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Kids Definition

eloquent

adjective

el·​o·​quent ˈel-ə-kwənt 

1

: having or showing clear and forceful expression

an eloquent speaker

an eloquent essay

2

: clearly showing some feeling or meaning

an eloquent look

eloquently adverb