soliloquy

[suh-lil-uh-kwee]

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noun, plural so·lil·o·quies.

an utterance or discourse by a person who is talking to himself or herself or is disregardful of or oblivious to any hearers present (often used as a device in drama to disclose a character's innermost thoughts): Hamlet's soliloquy begins with “To be or not to be.”

the act of talking while or as if alone.

Nearby words

Origin of soliloquy

1595–1605; < Late Latin sōliloquium a talking to oneself, soliloquy, equivalent to sōli- soli-¹ + loqu(ī) to speak + -ium -ium; see -y³

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for soliloquy

After his Green Eggs and Ham soliloquy, sanity left the building and a shutdown was almost inevitable.
Ted Cruz Runs Against His Own Government Shutdown|Joe McLean|January 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Biden launched into a soliloquy in praise of double-barrel shotguns.
Joe Biden’s Shotgun Approach to Politics Good for Obama Administration|John Avlon|February 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In a tearful statement, he launched into a soliloquy about seeing himself free again playing with children, balloons, and dogs.
Sandusky Sentenced to 30 to 60 Years: Inside the Courtroom|Diane Dimond|October 9, 2012|DAILY BEAST
And at that point he launched into a soliloquy about seeing himself free again playing with children, balloons, and dogs.
Sandusky Sentenced to 30 to 60 Years: Inside the Courtroom|Diane Dimond|October 9, 2012|DAILY BEAST

I also read, relatedly, John Galt's soliloquy for the first time in my life the other day.
State of Working America|Michael Tomasky|September 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST
I shuddered at the possibility of his having overheard the words of my soliloquy.
Caleb Williams|William Godwin
"Move on, youngster," quoth a policeman at this moment, and thus put an end to my soliloquy.
Confessions Of Con Cregan|Charles James Lever
"At this rate we shall freeze to death before midnight," he added, as if in soliloquy.
Deserted|Edward Bellamy
The speaker paused, as if he had been talking to himself; and then continued the soliloquy only in thought.
The Maroon|Mayne Reid
Then the poor old man began sobbing and soliloquizing; for it is a mistake to suppose that there is no soliloquy in nature.
French Classics|William Cleaver Wilkinson

British Dictionary definitions for soliloquy

soliloquy

noun plural -quies

the act of speaking alone or to oneself, esp as a theatrical device

a speech in a play that is spoken in soliloquyHamlet's first soliloquy

Word Origin for soliloquy

C17: via Late Latin sōliloquium, from Latin sōlus sole + loquī to speak

usage

Soliloquy is sometimes wrongly used where monologue is meant. Both words refer to a long speech by one person, but a monologue can be addressed to other people, whereas in a soliloquy the speaker is always talking to himself or herself

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 soliloquy

1610s, from Late Latin soliloquium "a talking to oneself," from Latin solus "alone" (see sole (adj.)) + loqui "speak" (see locution). Also used in translation of Latin "Liber Soliloquiorum," a treatise by Augustine, who is said to have coined the word, on analogy of Greek monologia (see monologue). Related: Soliloquent.