El"o*quence (?), n. [F. éloquence, L.
eloquentia, fr. eloquens. See Eloquent.]
1. Fluent, forcible, elegant, and persuasive speech in public; the power of
expressing strong emotions in
striking and appropriate language either spoken or written, thereby producing conviction or persuasion.
Eloquence is speaking out . . . out of the abundance of the heart.
Hare. 2. Fig.: Whatever produces the effect of
moving and persuasive speech.
Silence that spoke and eloquence of
eyes.
Pope. The hearts of men are their
books; events are their tutors;
great actions are their eloquence.
Macaulay.
3. That which is eloquently uttered or written.
O, let my books be then the
eloquence
And dumb presagers of my speaking breast.
Shak. Syn. -- Oratory; rhetoric.
Hear it pronounced