glossolalia
[ glos-uh-ley-lee-uh, glaw-suh- ]
/ ˌglɒs əˈleɪ li ə, ˌglɔ sə- /
|
noun
incomprehensible speech in an imaginary language, sometimes occurring in a trance state, an episode of religious ecstasy, or schizophrenia.
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What Is It Called When A Person Is “Speaking In Tongues?”A person who has what is known as “the gift of tongues” is usually in the midst of religious ecstasy, trance, or delirium. The speaker — and often witnesses too — believe that they are being possessed by a supernatural spirit or channeling the language of a deity or divine being, although the words are incomprehensible otherwise. Experts call this phenomenon glossolalia, a Greek compound of the words …
Nearby words
Compare speaking in tongues.
Related forms
glos·sol·a·list [glo-sol-uh-list, glaw-] /glɒˈsɒl ə lɪst, glɔ-/, nounDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for glossolalia
Besides, we find in Lola's case a high degree of glossolalia.
Lola|Henny Kindermann
British Dictionary definitions for glossolalia
glossolalia
/ (ˌɡlɒsəˈleɪlɪə) /
noun
another term for gift of tongues
psychol babbling in a nonexistent language
Word Origin for glossolalia
C19: New Latin, from glosso- + Greek lalein to speak, babble
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medicine definitions for glossolalia
glossolalia
[ glô′sə-lā′lē-ə ]
n.
Fabricated, nonmeaningful speech, especially associated with trances or certain schizophrenic syndromes.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.