Forms: 6 elocucion, -sion, -syon, eloquution, 6– elocution. [ad. L. ēlocūtiōn-em, n. of action f. ēloqui to speak out: cf. ELOQUENCE.
Sense 1 is identical with the meaning of elocutio as used by Roman rhetoricians. Sense 4, which has been evolved from the etymology without regard to Latin usage, corresponds to what the Romans expressed by pronuntiatio.]
† 1. Oratorical or literary expression of thought; literary ‘style’ as distinguished from ‘matter’; the power or art of appropriate and effective expression. Obs.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XI. i. Elocusion with the powre of Mercury, The matir enorneth right well facundyously.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet., 4. Elocucion is an appliyng of apte wordes and sentences to the matter founde out to confirme the cause.
1586. W. Webbe, Eng. Poetrie (Arb.), 19. Why should we think so basely of this? rather then of her sister, I meane Rhetoricall Eloquution.
1634. Habington, Castara (Arb.), 11. How unhappie soever I may be in the elocution, I am sure the Theame is worthy enough.
1681. Nevile, Plato Rediv., 167. A Person of good Learning and Elocution.
1731. Bailey, vol. II. Elocution (with Rhetoricians) consists in apt expressing, and a beautiful order of placing of words.
1844. Lingard, Hist. Anglo-Sax. Ch. (1858), II. xi. 171. Your … acquaintance with those forms of elocution in which it is expressed.
† b. concr. A mode of expression. Obs.
a. 1679. Hobbes, Rhet. (1840), 492. Elocutions are made decent: 1. By speaking feelingly … 2. By speaking as becomes the person of the speaker, etc.
† 2. Eloquence, oratory; concr. in pl. harangues.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T., 39 a. How shall I arme myne elocution.
1631. Massinger, Emperor East, II. i. (1632), E ij b. Sheele tire mee with Her tedious Elocutions.
1635. Naunton, Fragm. Reg. (Arb.), 49. She began to be taken with his elocution.
1649. Milton, Eikon., 241. To stirr the constancie of any wise man is … above the genius of his cleric elocution.
1715–20. Pope, Iliad, III. 283. When he speaks, what elocution flows!
1791. Cowper, Iliad, IX. 549. Both elocution and address in arms.
3. Oral utterance; way or manner of speaking. Now only with some notion of 4.
1623. Cockeram, Elocution. Vtterance.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 747. Whose taste … Gave elocution to the mute.
1754. Richardson, Grandison (1781), II. xxix. 274. He had a lively and easy elocution.
1794. Godwin, Cal. Williams, 18. For this Mr. Tyrrel was indebted to a boisterous and overbearing elocution.
1795. Burke, Lett. to W. Elliot, Wks. 1815, VII. 371. You have a natural, fluent and unforced elocution.
1846. Ruskin, Mod. Paint., I. I. I. ii. § 7. The clear and vigorous elocution of useless and senseless words.
4. The art of public speaking so far as it regards delivery, pronunciation, tones and gestures; manner or style of oral delivery. Also attrib.
1613. R. C., Table Alph. (ed. 3), Elocution, good vtterance of speech.
1678. Phillips, Elocution, proper Speech, handsome utterance.
1739. Cibber, Apol. (1756), I. 87. True theatrical elocution.
1815. Scott, Guy M., xxxvii. It … served to give zest and peculiarity to the style of elocution.
1864. Sat. Rev., 13 Dec., 819/1. The worst of the other system, that of boarding-schools and ‘elocution-masters,’ is that [etc.].
