gesture
JESS-cher
/ˈdʒɛstʃər/
An action performed to express a feeling, intention, or attitude; a symbolic act.
While it can mean a physical movement of the hands, in the context of gift-giving, it refers to a symbolic action meant to convey goodwill, sympathy, or respect.
The story behind the word. The Latin verb 'gerere' meant to carry, bear, or perform. From this came 'gestura', which referred to how a person carried their body or behaved. Over time, the word narrowed from general bodily carriage to specific, expressive movements of the hands, and finally to symbolic acts of kindness or communication.
Word relationships
- signal: 'Signal' is purely informational or functional, whereas a 'gesture' carries emotional or social intent.
- token: A 'token' is usually a physical object representing a feeling, while a 'gesture' is the action itself.
- inaction: 'Inaction' is the absence of any movement or symbolic response.
Commonly confused with
- posture: 'Posture' is the physical alignment of the body, whereas 'gesture' is an active movement or symbolic deed.
Word family
- gestural (adjective): Relating to gestures or physical movements.
- gestured (verb): Past tense of gesture.
Collocations
- kind gesture
- symbolic gesture
- gesture of goodwill
- empty gesture
Example sentences
- "Sending flowers to the funeral was a comforting gesture of sympathy for the grieving family." A small act of kindness between neighbors.
Memory hook
A 'gesture' is like a 'guest-sure'—making sure your guest feels welcome with a kind act. A gesture is a movement of the heart.
When not to use
Do not use to describe a purely practical or transactional action that carries no emotional or symbolic meaning.
Fun facts
- In the Middle Ages, a 'gest' (from the same root) was a story of great deeds and adventures, such as the 'Gesta Romanorum' (Deeds of the Romans).
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