glossolalia

[glos-uh-ley-lee-uh, glaw-suh-]

noun

1. incomprehensible speech in an imaginary language, sometimes occurring in a trance state, an episode of religious ecstasy, or schizophrenia.

glossolalia

/ ˌɡlɒsəˈleɪlɪə /

noun

1. another term for gift of tongues

2. psychol babbling in a nonexistent language

Other Word Forms

• glossolalist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of glossolalia¹

First recorded in 1875–80; glosso- + -lalia

Word History and Origins

Origin of glossolalia¹

C19: New Latin, from _glosso- + Greek lalein to speak, babble

Example Sentences

Laraaji, who has been releasing music since the late 1970s, produces aural glossolalia — divine, luminescent melodic debris.

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Growing up in the Pentecostal Church of God in Christ, you saw your share of glossolalia.

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Former members and rare published accounts from observers describe the expressions of glossolalia, or speaking in tongues, as relatively low-key — murmured private prayers, for instance.

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I am tempted to joke that Feinstein was envisioning a Supreme Court justice who might at any moment lapse into glossolalia — a word that should be used whenever possible and means speaking in tongues.

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They screamed praise at the YouTubers like glossolalia.

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