1. Of or pertaining to colloquy; conversational.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 101, ¶ 2. The colloquial wit has always his own radiance reflected on himself.
1839. De Quincey, Recoll. Lakes, Wks. 1862, II. 232. His … colloquial judgments upon doubtful actions of his neighbours.
1871. R. Ellis, Catullus, x. 6. We fell on endless themes colloquial.
2. spec. Of words, phrases, etc.: Belonging to common speech; characteristic of or proper to ordinary conversation, as distinguished from formal or elevated language. (The usual sense.)
1752. Johnson, Rambler, No. 203, ¶ 11. To refine our language to grammatical purity, and to clear it from colloquial barbarisms.
1817. Coleridge, Biog. Lit., 218. To use a colloquial phrase, such sentiments … do one’s heart good.
1876. Green, Short Hist., vii. 418. The abandonment of … poetic diction for the colloquial language of real life.
