[ad. med.L. locūtōri-um, neut. of *locūtōri-us, f. locūtor: see prec. and -ORY.] An apartment in a monastery set apart for conversation, a parlor; occas. a grille at which the inmates of a monastery may speak with those outside (cf. med.L. locutoria fenestra).
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 242 b/1. He brouȝt hym in to the parloure or locutorye.
1534. More, Comf. agst. Trib., II. Wks. 1170/1. So came she to the grate that they cal (I trowe) the locutorye.
1669. Woodhead, St. Teresa, II. iii. 21. I was once with him in a Locutory.
1772. Nugent, trans. Hist. Friar Gerund, I. 557, note. Parlatories, or Parlours, or Locutories.
1825. Scott, Betrothed, xix. She left the betrothed parties in the locutory or parlour.
1841. Gresley, For. Arden, 60. While Latimer waited in the locutory, the compline-service, or second vespers, were prolonged beyond the usual time.
1856. R. A. Vaughan, Mystics (1860), I. VI. iv. 178. Several monks in the locutory.
Also in L. form ǁ Locutorium.
1774. T. West, Antiq. Furness (1805), 75. The times for conversation were, after dinner, in the Locutorium, or conversation-room.
1864. Skeat, trans. Uhland’s Poems, 427. The locutorium’s prattle Again the convent hears.
1883. Q. Rev., Oct., 420. She locked up the locutoria, the parlours where visitors were received.
