gesture

gesture
    n 1: motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a
         thought or feeling
    2: the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate
       familiar or prearranged signals [syn: {gesture}, {motion}]
    3: something done as an indication of intention; "a political
       gesture"; "a gesture of defiance"
    v 1: show, express or direct through movement; "He gestured his
         desire to leave" [syn: {gesticulate}, {gesture}, {motion}]
    

Gesture \Ges"ture\, n. [LL. gestura mode of action, fr. L.
   gerere, gestum, to bear, behave, perform, act. See {Gest} a
   deed.]
   1. Manner of carrying the body; position of the body or
      limbs; posture. [Obs.]
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            Accubation, or lying down at meals, was a gesture
            used by many nations.                 --Sir T.
                                                  Browne.
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   2. A motion of the body or limbs expressive of sentiment or
      passion; any action or posture intended to express an idea
      or a passion, or to enforce or emphasize an argument,
      assertion, or opinion.
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            Humble and reverent gestures.         --Hooker.
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            Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye,
            In every gesture dignity and love.    --Milton.
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Gesture \Ges"ture\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Gestured}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Gesturing}.]
   To accompany or illustrate with gesture or action; to
   gesticulate.
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         It is not orderly read, nor gestured as beseemeth.
                                                  --Hooker.
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Gesture \Ges"ture\, v. i.
   To make gestures; to gesticulate.
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         The players . . . gestured not undecently withal.
                                                  --Holland.
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119 Moby Thesaurus words for "gesture":
      action, actions, activity, acts, address, affectation, air,
      bearing, beck, beckon, behavior, behavior pattern, behavioral norm,
      behavioral science, body language, broad hint, carriage, charade,
      chironomy, clue, comportment, conduct, cue, culture pattern,
      custom, dactylology, deaf-and-dumb alphabet, demeanor, deportment,
      doing, doings, dumb show, flag, folkway, formality, gambit,
      gentle hint, gesticulate, gesticulation, gesture language,
      gestures, glimmer, glimmering, goings-on, guise, hand signal,
      high sign, hint, implication, index, indicate, indication, inkling,
      innuendo, insinuation, intimation, kick, kinesics, look, maintien,
      manner, manners, method, methodology, methods, mien, mime,
      modus vivendi, motion, motion to, motions, move, movement,
      movements, moves, nod, nudge, observable behavior, pantomime,
      pattern, ploy, poise, port, pose, posture, practice, praxis,
      presence, procedure, proceeding, prompt, reminder, saw the air,
      scent, shrug, shrug the shoulders, sign, sign language, signal,
      signalize, social science, spoor, stance, style, suggestion,
      suspicion, symbol, symptom, tactics, telltale, token, tone, track,
      wave the arms, way, way of life, ways, whisper, wink