Definitions Related words Mentions Lyrics History

Literary notes about loquacity (AI summary)

The term "loquacity" has been deployed in literature with a rich variety of connotations, often extending beyond mere talkativeness to embody a character’s overall expressive quality or even a symbolic gesture. In some works, authors use it to capture an excess of words or a kind of unfiltered verbosity—as seen in Augustine’s ironic sale of a "loquacity" in [1] and Conrad’s warning about "fits of loquacity" in [2]. In contrast, Hardy employs the term in nuanced ways, referring not only to verbal expression but also to nonverbal cues; in one instance, the "loquacity of her face" in [3] suggests that even silence can speak volumes, a theme neatly counterposed with Gabriel’s meaningful silence in [4]. Other writers like Eliot [5] and Maupassant [6] leverage the term to illustrate astonishment and charm in their characters’ demeanor, while Dumas [7] and Lewis [8] note its fluctuation as an indicator of mood or societal commentary. Across these diverse texts, "loquacity" emerges as a flexible literary device that captures the interplay between speech, silence, and the deeper layers of human communication.
  1. In those years I taught rhetoric, and, overcome by cupidity, made sale of a loquacity to overcome by.
    — from The Confessions of St. Augustine by Bishop of Hippo Saint Augustine
  2. They sat silent themselves, keeping a watchful eye on poor Stevie, lest he should break out into one of his fits of loquacity.
    — from The Secret Agent: A Simple Tale by Joseph Conrad
  3. But she forbore to utter this feeling, and the reticence of her tongue only made the loquacity of her face the more noticeable.
    — from Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
  4. There is a loquacity that tells nothing, which was Bathsheba's; and there is a silence which says much: that was Gabriel's.
    — from Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
  5. Uncle Glegg stood open-mouthed with astonishment at this unembarrassed loquacity, with which his understanding could hardly keep pace.
    — from The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot
  6. The notary, Maitre Rameau, was one of the first to take his part, attracted by his smiling loquacity.
    — from Complete Original Short Stories of Guy De Maupassant by Guy de Maupassant
  7. D’Artagnan was thoughtful and seemed for the moment to have lost his usual loquacity.
    — from Twenty years after by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet
  8. The nervous loquacity and opinionation of the Zenith Athletic Club dropped from them.
    — from Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis

More usage examples

Also see: Google, News, Images, Wikipedia, Reddit, BlueSky


Home   Reverse Dictionary / Thesaurus   Datamuse   Word games   Spruce   Feedback   Dark mode   Random word   Help


Color thesaurus

Use OneLook to find colors for words and words for colors

See an example

Literary notes

Use OneLook to learn how words are used by great writers

See an example

Word games

Try our innovative vocabulary games

Play Now

Read the latest OneLook newsletter issue: Compound Your Joy