gesticulation

English

From Middle French gesticulation, from Latin gesticulatio.

gesticulation (countable and uncountable, plural gesticulations)

The act of gesticulating, or making gestures to aid expression of thoughts, sentiments or passion.
- 1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann:
  It is commonly supposed that they communicated by sounds and tentacular gesticulations; this is asserted, for instance, in the able but hastily compiled pamphlet (written evidently by someone not an eye-witness of Martian actions) to which I have already alluded, and which, so far, has been the chief source of information concerning them.
A gesture; a motion of the body or limbs when speaking, or in representing action or passion, and enforcing arguments and sentiments.
- 1929, Robert Dean Frisbee, The Book of Puka-Puka (republished by Eland, 2019; p. 193):
  The breeze had died away and the tree was now quite motionless save when William's statements required forcible gesticulations, which made it sway in a gentle nodding manner as though it were confirming every word the old sage uttered.
(dated) An odd or fanciful motion.

act of gesticulating

gesticuler +‎ -ation

gesticulation f (plural gesticulations)