Eloquence
/ˈɛl.ə.kwəns/noun
Fluent, persuasive, and expressive speaking or writing.
Did you know?Eloquence comes from Latin *eloquentia*, built on *e-* (“out”) + *loqui* (“to speak”), and the same speech-root also gave us words tied to language, dialogue, and even the study of talking itself.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*tolkʷ-
“to speak, say”
Latin
Latin
loqui
“to speak”
Latin
Latin
eloquentia
“fluency or persuasive speaking”
Old French
Old French
eloquence
“fluent, persuasive speech”
Middle English
English
eloquence
“artful, fluent speech”
Modern English
English
eloquence
“fluent, persuasive, expressive speech”
Explore more surprising origins