gesticulation

Noun

gesticulation (countable and uncountable, plural gesticulations)

1. The act of gesticulating, or making gestures to aid expression of thoughts, sentiments or passion.
2. A gesture; a motion of the body or limbs when speaking, or in representing action or passion, and enforcing arguments and sentiments.
   • In the eagerness of his gesticulations, first he knocked off my hat, then he knocked off Lessingham’s, then his own, then all three together […]1897, Richard Marsh, The Beetle
   • 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...1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann
3. (dated) An odd or fanciful motion.
   • I indulged in this meditation for a moment, and then again addressed the mourner, who stood leaning against the bed with that expression of resigned despair, of complete misery, and a patient sufferance of it, which is far more touching than any of the insane ravings or wild gesticulation of...1826, [Mary Shelley], chapter IV, in The Last Man. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 115