perlocutionary

perlocutionary [pur-luh-kyoo-shuh-ner-ee] Word Origin adjective Philosophy, Linguistics.

1. (of a speech act) producing an effect upon the listener, as in persuading, frightening, amusing, or causing the listener to act.

Compare illocutionary, locutionary. Origin of perlocutionary First recorded in 1950–55; per- + locution + -ary Related formsper·lo·cu·tion, noun British Dictionary definitions for perlocution perlocution noun

1. philosophy the effect that someone has by uttering certain words, such as frightening a personAlso called: perlocutionary act Compare illocution

Derived Formsperlocutionary, adjectiveWord Origin for perlocution C16 (in the obsolete sense: the action of speaking): from Medieval or New Latin perlocūtiō; see per-, locution