Words / C2

EL-uh-kw-uh-ns/ˈeləkwəns/

Eloquence is fluent, persuasive, and graceful speech or writing: a speech of eloquence, natural eloquence. Speech (already in the dictionary) is everyday talk or a formal address; fluent (already in the dictionary) is smooth and accurate in a language. Rhetoric (already in the dictionary) is persuasion, sometimes empty; bombast (already in the dictionary) is pompous inflated language — the hollow cousin. Laconic and taciturn (already in the dictionary) are very brief, or quiet by habit. Grace about “care” is not a named first-aider.

Meaning

Fluent, persuasive, and graceful speech or writing.

Examples

• “Eloquence about “care” is not a named first-aider.”
• “Speech is everyday talk or an address (already in B1). Fluent is smooth in a language (already in B1). Rhetoric is persuasion, sometimes empty (already in C1). Bombast is pompous empty language (already in C2). Laconic is very brief (already in C2). Taciturn is quiet by habit (already in C2). Heat for a method can still be exact. Heat instead of a named post is theatre. Write the rota; then the period.”

Good to know

Fluent persuasive speech. Everyday: speech / fluent (already in this dictionary). Close: rhetoric (already in C1). Contrast: bombast (already in C2); laconic / taciturn (already in C2). Oratory ≠ a first-aider.

Near in meaning

fluency, rhetoric, oratory, expressiveness

New