SOLILOQUY

soliloquy

(noun) a (usually long) dramatic speech intended to give the illusion of unspoken reflections

soliloquy, monologue

(noun) speech you make to yourself

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

soliloquy (countable and uncountable, plural soliloquies)

(drama) The act of a character speaking to themselves so as to reveal their thoughts to the audience.

Coordinate term: aside

(authorship) A speech or written discourse in this form.

Synonym: monologue

Antonyms: colloquy, dialogue, dialog

Usage notes

Primarily used of theater, particularly the works of William Shakespeare, as a term of art, particularly for finely-crafted speeches. An archetype is the β€œTo be, or not to be” soliloquy in Hamlet. In informal speech or discussions of popular culture, the term monologue is used instead. However, the terms are not precisely synonymous; a monologue is held in the presence and directed towards other characters on the stage, whereas a soliloquy does not acknowledge the presence of any other stage characters if present, and is directed to the audience.

Hypernyms

• locution

• oration

Verb

soliloquy (third-person singular simple present soliloquies, present participle soliloquing or soliloquying, simple past and past participle soliloquied)

(very, rare) To issue a soliloquy.

Synonyms

• soliloquize (much more common)

Source: Wiktionary


So*lil"o*quy, n.; pl. Soliloquies. Etym: [L. soliloquium; solus alone + loqui to speak. See Sole ly, and Loquacious.]

1. The act of talking to one's self; a discourse made by one in solitude to one's self; monologue. Lovers are always allowed the comfort of soliloquy. Spectator.

2. A written composition, reciting what it is supposed a person says to himself. The whole poem is a soliloquy. Prior.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

11 March 2025

CATECHISM

(noun) an elementary book summarizing the principles of a Christian religion; written as questions and answers


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