GLOSSOLALIA; GLOSSOLALY

Glos `so *la "li *a, Glos *sol "a *ly, n. Etym: [NL. , fr. Gr. glossolalie. ]

glossolalia

glos so la li a |ˌgläsəˈlālēə, ˌglô -ˌɡlɑsəˈleɪliə | ▶noun the phenomenon of (apparently ) speaking in an unknown language, esp. in religious worship. It is practiced esp. by Pentecostal and charismatic Christians. DERIVATIVES glos so la lic |-ˌlālik |adjective ORIGIN late 19th cent.: from Greek glōssa ‘language, tongue ’ + lalia ‘speech. ’

glossolalia

glossolalia |ˌglɒsəˈleɪlɪə | ▶noun [ mass noun ] the phenomenon of (apparently ) speaking in an unknown language, especially in religious worship. It is practised especially by Pentecostal and charismatic Christians. DERIVATIVES glossolalic adjective ORIGIN late 19th cent.: from Greek glōssa ‘language, tongue ’ + lalia ‘speech ’.