blandiloquence

English

Etymology

From Latin blandus (“flattering”) + loquor (“speak”).

Noun

blandiloquence (uncountable)

1. (archaic) flattery [from 17th c.]
   • 2004, John Keane, Violence and Democracy‎^[1]:

     The scale and ferocity of violence produced by uncivil wars have fascinated, shocked, and sickened the whole world. Words cannot easily describe their cruelty, and their attempted theorisation seems at first glance to be a self-indulgent act of blandiloquence.

References

• James A. H. Murray et al., editors (1884–1928), “Blandiloquence”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume I (A–B), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 901, column 1.