gesture

From Medieval Latin gestura (“a mode of action”), from Latin gerere (“to bear, reflexive bear oneself, behave, act”), past participle gestus.

• IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒest͡ʃə/, /ˈdʒɛs.tʃə(ɹ)/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈdʒɛs.tʃɚ/, /ˈdʒɛs.tʃɝ/

• Audio (GA)

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gesture (plural gestures)

1. A motion of the limbs or body, especially one made to emphasize speech.

   The middle-finger gesture is really a nonverbal swear.

   This Web browser can be controlled with mouse gestures.

   • (Can we date this quote?) John Milton

     Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye, / In every gesture dignity and love.

2. An act or a remark made as a formality or as a sign of attitude.

   We took flowers as a gesture of sympathy.

   • 1922, Michael Arlen, “2/4/1”, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days‎:

     But, with a gesture, she put a period to this dalliance—one shouldn't palter so on an empty stomach, she might almost have said.

3. (obsolete) The manner of carrying the body; position of the body or limbs; posture.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Sir Thomas Browne

     Accubation, or lying down at meals, was a gesture used by many nations.

• countergesture
• gesticulate
• gesticulation
• gesticulative
• gestural
• gestureless
• gesturelike

gesture (third-person singular simple present gestures, present participle gesturing, simple past and past participle gestured)

1. (intransitive) To make a gesture or gestures.

   My dad said to never gesture with my hands when I talk.

   Never gesture at someone with a middle finger.

2. (transitive) To express something by a gesture or gestures.

   He gestured his disgust.

3. (transitive) To accompany or illustrate with gesture or action.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Hooker

     It is not orderly read, nor gestured as beseemeth.

• ((intransitive) make a gesture): gesticulate

• ((intransitive) make a gesture): beckon

• Appendix:Gestures

• gesture in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• gesture in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

gesture

1. Alternative form of gesturm

gestūre

1. vocative masculine singular of gestūrus