gift of tongues

American  

noun

1. speaking in tongues.

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gift of tongues British  

noun

1. Also called: glossolalia.  an utterance, partly or wholly unintelligible, believed by some to be produced under the influence of ecstatic religious emotion and conceived to be a manifestation of the Holy Ghost: practised in certain Christian churches, usually called Pentecostal

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Etymology

Origin of gift of tongues

First recorded in 1550–60

Example Sentences

But displacement, division, forkedness—this is the curse and the gift of tongues that are born of speaking from a minority locale, interior yet expelled, at once observed and observing.

From Slate • Nov. 3, 2015

Possessed of the gift of tongues, she sometimes interpreted Indian languages and even engaged in religious prophecy, which occasionally set her at odds with her Mormon elders.

From Salon • Apr. 20, 2014

Peter saw the "gift of tongues" in a group of Gentiles as evidence that the Holy Ghost was present and they should be baptized forthwith.

From Time Magazine Archive

The gift of tongues is a freeing of the personality in expressing one's self more profoundly, particularly toward God, even though the symbols are not understood by the speaker.

From Time Magazine Archive

“They have the gift of tongues, just like the apostles in Jesus’ time.”

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane