Gesticulation
/dʒɛˌstɪk.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/noun
A dramatic gesture used to emphasize or express something while speaking.
Did you know?In ancient Roman theater, exaggerated gestures were crucial, as actors relied on visual expression to convey emotion to audiences far away without sound.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
gesticulatio
“a movement of the body or limbs, often expressing thought or emotion”
Middle French
Old French
gesticulacion
“the act of making gestures or movements while speaking”
17th Century
English
gesticulation
“the action of making expressive gestures, particularly in speech”
Modern English
English
gesticulation
“the act of using gestures to convey meaning or emotion in communication”