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perlocution


Definition of perlocution

noun

Philosophy & Linguistics
  • an act of speaking or writing which has an action as its aim but which in itself does not effect or constitute the action, for example persuading or convincing. Compare with illocution.

Derivatives

perlocutionary

adjective

Origin:

1950s: from modern Latin perlocutio(n-), from per- 'throughout' + locutio(n-) 'speaking'

perlocution in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of perlocution in the US English dictionary
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