a. [f. VENTRILOQUY + -AL.]
1. Of sounds: Such as are produced by ventriloquism.
1836–7. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Char., viii. The symphony … was soon afterwards followed by a faint kind of ventriloquial chirping.
a. 1845. Hood, To Kitchener, viii. Potent to hush all ventriloquial snarling.
1879. Boddam-Whetham, Roraima, xiii. 152. It was very delightful to hear one of them pouring forth his rich and ventriloquial notes.
2. Of or belonging to, consisting of, ventriloquism.
1838. Dickens, O. Twist, xli. ‘A bad one!’… growled Mr. Grimwig, speaking by some ventriloquial power, without moving a muscle of his face.
1865. Pall Mall G., 23 Oct., 11. His ventriloquial entertainment is … a clever piece of vocal imitation.
1875. Flo. Marryat, Open Sesame, I. x. 146. Expecting to receive another proof of her ventriloquial skill.
Hence Ventriloquially adv.
1844. Bristol Mercury, 14 Dec., 5/4. Mr. M[acmillan] can, without any apparent effort, modulate his voice ventriloquially from the chirping of the timid mouse to the thunder growl of the Nemean lion.
1893. Ganthony, Pract. Ventriloquism, 27. Should Ventriloquial practice make your throat ache,… do not use it ventriloquially for a time.
