gesture
- gesture
gesture n Gesture, gesticulation are comparable when meaning an expressive movement or motion of the body or limbs or the use of such a movement or motion.
Gesture is the more inclusive term; it may imply any such movement or motion intended to express what words cannot, or to increase the effectiveness or poignancy of words that are being uttered, or to take the place of words when for some reason or other they are unnecessary or impossible
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the right [hand of Niobe] is drawing up her daughter to her; and with that instinctive gesture ... is encouraging the child to believe that it can give security— Shelley
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he had permitted himself his very first and last gesture in all these days, raising a hard-clenched fist above his head— Conrad
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the gesture with which he threw away the cigar-end struck her as very distinguished— Bennett
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Gesticulation, on the other hand, is applicable only when there is implication of unrestrained excitement, or the loss or absence of grace or dignity, or a determined effort to attract attention
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his human figures are sometimes "o'er- informed" with . . . feeling. Their actions have too much gesticulation— Hazlitt
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making various savage gesticulations— Livingstone
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the nineteenth-century reaction against post-Raphaelite painting . . . the twentieth-century exclusive zeal for purely formal elements in pictures, both reflect our lack of sympathy with gesticulation—the word itself is pejorative— Chandler
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New Dictionary of Synonyms.
2014.
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Look at other dictionaries:
gesture — [jes′chər] n. [ME < ML gestura, mode of action < L gestus, pp. of gerere, to bear, carry] 1. a movement, or movements collectively, of the body, or of part of the body, to express or emphasize ideas, emotions, etc. 2. anything said or done… … English World dictionary
Gesture — Ges ture, n. [LL. gestura mode of action, fr. L. gerere, gestum, to bear, behave, perform, act. See {Gest} a deed.] 1. Manner of carrying the body; position of the body or limbs; posture. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Accubation, or lying down at meals,… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Gesture — Ges ture, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Gestured}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Gesturing}.] To accompany or illustrate with gesture or action; to gesticulate. [1913 Webster] It is not orderly read, nor gestured as beseemeth. Hooker. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
gesture — (n.) early 15c., manner of carrying the body, from M.L. gestura bearing, behavior, from L. gestus gesture, carriage, posture (see GEST (Cf. gest)). Restricted sense of a movement of the body or a part of it is from 1550s; figurative sense of… … Etymology dictionary
gesture — [n] motion as communication action, body language, bow, curtsy, expression, genuflection, gesticulation, high sign, indication, intimation, kinesics, mime, nod, pantomime, reminder, salute, shrug, sign, signal, sign language, token, wave, wink;… … New thesaurus
gesture — ► NOUN 1) a movement of part of the body to express an idea or meaning. 2) an action performed to convey one s feelings or intentions. 3) an action performed for show in the knowledge that it will have no effect. ► VERB ▪ make a gesture.… … English terms dictionary
Gesture — Ges ture, v. i. To make gestures; to gesticulate. [1913 Webster] The players . . . gestured not undecently withal. Holland. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
gesture — index brandish, symbol Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
Gesture — [sprich: Dschästscha, dt. »Geste«], Anweisung für das Betriebssystem eines Pen Computers. Gestures werden mit einem Stift eingegeben (dem Pen), dessen Bewegungen auf dem berührungssensitiven Display vom Betriebssystem ausgewertet werden.… … Universal-Lexikon
Gesture — A gesture is a form of non verbal communication made with a part of the body, used instead of or in combination with verbal communication . The language of gesture allows individuals to express a variety of feelings and thoughts, from contempt… … Wikipedia
