gesticulate

[ je-stik-yuh-leyt ]
/ dʒɛˈstɪk yəˌleɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR gesticulate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), ges·tic·u·lat·ed, ges·tic·u·lat·ing.

to make or use gestures, especially in an animated or excited manner with or instead of speech.

verb (used with object), ges·tic·u·lat·ed, ges·tic·u·lat·ing.

to express by gesturing.

Origin of gesticulate

1595–1605; < Latin gesticulātus (past participle of gesticulārī), equivalent to Late Latin (assumed in Latin) gesticul(us) gesture (diminutive of gestus; see gestic, -cule1) + -ātus -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM gesticulate

Words nearby gesticulate

gestatorial chair, geste, gestic, gesticulant, gesticular, gesticulate, gesticulation, gestosis, gesture, gesualdo, gesundheit

Words related to gesticulative

stylistic, bombastic, declamatory, dramatic, elaborate, eloquent, expressive, fervid, forceful, grandiloquent, histrionic, impassioned, important, imposing, inflated, lofty, long-winded, loud, noble, noisy

Example sentences from the Web for gesticulative

  • This might be true if they represented on the stage a gesticulative race.

    Our Stage and Its Critics |"E.F.S." of "The Westminster Gazette"

  • A moment more and a captain of gendarmes appears and shouts something in excited, gesticulative French.

    In the Track of the Trades |Lewis R. Freeman

  • The driver awoke with a start from profound reverie, looked Kirkwood over, and bowed with gesticulative palms.

    The Black Bag |Louis Joseph Vance

British Dictionary definitions for gesticulative

gesticulate
/ (dʒɛˈstɪkjʊˌleɪt) /

verb

to express by or make gestures

Derived forms of gesticulate

gesticulative, adjective gesticulator, noun

Word Origin for gesticulate

C17: from Latin gesticulārī, from Latin gesticulus (unattested except in Late Latin) gesture, diminutive of gestus gesture, from gerere to bear, conduct