illocutionary

[il-uh-kyoo-shuh-ner-ee]

adjective Philosophy, Linguistics.

pertaining to a linguistic act performed by a speaker in producing an utterance, as suggesting, warning, promising, or requesting.

Compare locutionary, perlocutionary.

Origin of illocutionary

First recorded in 1950–55; il-¹ + locution + -ary

Related formsil·lo·cu·tion, noun

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British Dictionary definitions for illocution

illocution

noun

philosophy an act performed by a speaker by virtue of uttering certain words, as for example the acts of promising or of threateningAlso called: illocutionary act See also performative Compare perlocution

Derived Formsillocutionary, adjective

Word Origin for illocution

C20: from il- + locution

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

Word Origin and History for illocution

1955, from assimilated form of in- (1) "not, opposite of" + locution.

illocutionary

adj.

1955, from illocution + -ary.