noun
glossolalia
Glossolalia (noun) means speaking a language one does not know, or speaking elaborate but apparently meaningless speech, while in a trance-like state (or, supposedly, under the influence of a deity or spirits); speaking in tongues.
noun
1
Speaking a language one does not know, or speaking elaborate but apparently meaningless speech, while in a trance-like state (or, supposedly, under the influence of a deity or spirits); speaking in tongues.
"Everything was a labyrinthine amalgam of languages, a towering Babel of puns and glossolalia."
— Andy Martin, Text Messenger (2012)
"Lorenzo is still kneeling at the box, once more Luisa wipes her eyes, Violeta is sobbing and rocking, her glossolalia now at the -sə-sə-sə-level of near exhaustion."
— Felicitas D. Goodman, Chronology of Events (1982)
2
Synonym of xenoglossy (“knowledge of a language one has never learned”).
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Etymology
Formed from glosso- and -lalia. Glosso- comes from Ancient Greek γλῶσσᾰ (glôssă, “tongue; language”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *glōgʰs, and -lalia from λᾰλῐᾱ́ (lălĭā́, “talking; form of speech, dialect”), itself from λᾰ́λος (lắlos, “talkative”) plus -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā, a suffix forming feminine abstract nouns).
Synonyms
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Rhymes for glossolalia
See all rhymes for glossolalia →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of glossolalia?
"glossolalia" (noun) means speaking a language one does not know, or speaking elaborate but apparently meaningless speech, while in a trance-like state (or, supposedly, under the influence of a deity or spirits); speaking in tongues.
What is another word for glossolalia?
Other words for "glossolalia" include speaking in tongues.
What are the different meanings of glossolalia?
"glossolalia" has 2 main meanings: 1. Speaking a language one does not know, or speaking elaborate but apparently meaningless speech, while in a trance-like state (or, supposedly, under the influence of a deity or spirits); speaking in tongues; 2. Synonym of xenoglossy (“knowledge of a language one has never learned”).
