[f. SPEAK v.]
1. That speaks; capable of articulate speech. † In early use absol.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2821. Quo made domme, and quo specande?
1382. Wyclif, Ezek. ii. 1. A vois of the spekynge.
1568. Satir. Poems Reform., xlvii. 102. Callit ane speikand devill.
1685. Boyle, Enq. Notion Nat., iv. 84. Of some such sort of speaking images, some learned criticks suppose the Teraphim … to have been.
1740. J. Dyer, Ruins Rome (1903), 33. Historic urns and breathing statues rise, And speaking busts.
1778–81. Warton, Hist. Eng. Poetry, xxvii. (1870), 452. The public pageants of this period … received … the addition of speaking personages.
1832. Brewster, Nat. Magic, i. 4. The speaking head which uttered its oracular responses at Lesbos.
1865. Tylor, Early Hist. Man., ii. 19. So the speaking man has no business to meddle with the invention of signs.
1883. Encycl. Brit., XV. 208/1. The philosopher Descartes made a speaking figure.
fig. 1549. Compl. Scot., xiii. 108. Ther is ane ald prouerb that says that ane herand damysele, and ane spekand castel, sal neuyr end vith honour.
1644. J. Bulwer (title), Chirologia: or the Natvrall Langvage of the Hand. Composed of the Speaking Motions, and Discoursing Gestures thereof.
b. As the second element of various combs., as evil-, fair-, great-, public-, true-, well-speaking. † Also absol.
a. 1325. Prose Psalter xliii. 18. Fram þe voice of þe reproceand and þe oȝains spekand.
a. 1366[?]. Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 1268. A knyght … That worthy was and wel spekyng.
1388. Wyclif, Ps. xi. 4. The Lorde destrie … the greet spekynge tunge.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 211. That he bene corteyse, wel Spekynge, and eloquente.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 290. The opinion of any one true speaking man.
1611. Cotgr., s.v. Pendu, A smooth, glib, eloquent, or well speaking tongue.
1647. Clarendon, Contempl. on Ps., Tracts (1727), 517. To grapple with our fair-speaking adversaries.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. VII. iii. The public-speaking woman at the Palais Royal.
c. In objective combs. with names of languages.
1865. Kingsley, Herew., Prel. French-speaking knights.
1873–. [see ENGLISH a. C].
1899. Mackail, W. Morris, I. 179. Among Greek-speaking people.
2. In various fig. and transf. senses; esp. expressive, significant, eloquent.
c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. XLV. i. Thie lipps, as springs, doe flowe with speaking grace.
1635. Jackson, Creed, VIII. xxxi. 358. A prophecie or speaking picture that the victory … should be accomplishte upon the crosse.
1653. R. Flecknoe, Poems of all Sorts, 1. Still borne Silence,… Admirations speakingst Tongue.
1722. De Foe, Plague (1884), 84. ’Tis a speaking Sight.
1730. T. Boston, Mem., ix. This recovery … seemed to be speaking as to the point I was concerned about.
1813. Shelley, Q. Mab, IV. 3. The balmiest sigh … Were discord to the speaking quietude That wraps this moveless scene.
1853. Humphreys, Coin Collector’s Man., I. 262. Supposed to have been adopted as a speaking type.
1876. Freeman, Norm. Conq., V. xxii. 40. But the existence of such minute variations in boundaries that have remained essentially the same is of itself a speaking witness to their permanence.
b. Of the eyes, countenance, etc.: Highly expressive.
1592. Arden of Feversham, I. 259. Loue is the Painters Muse, That makes him frame a speaking countenaunce.
1602. Kyd’s Span. Trag., III. Wks. (1901), 68. With a speaking looke to my sonne Horatio.
1631. P. Fletcher, Piscatory Eclog., II. xx. (1633), 12. Me thinks I heare thy speaking eye Woo me my posting journey to delay.
1726. Pope, Odyss., XVII. 438. With speaking eyes, and voice of plaintiff sound.
1740. Richardson, Pamela (1824), I. xxiii. 35. Can the pretty image speak, Mrs. Jervis? I vow she has speaking eyes!
1826. Disraeli, V. Grey, III. vi. One who takes her answer … from the speaking lineaments of the face, which are Truth’s witnesses.
1842. I. Williams, Baptistery, II. xxviii. (1874), 145. Expression varies still each speaking glance.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ At Bay, ii. Elsie was silent, but a distressed look crept over her speaking face.
3. Of likeness, etc.: Striking; true; faithful.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, I. (Arb.), 40. His face goodlye roset, with speaking forgerye feigned.
1844. Kinglake, Eöthen, xviii. Anybody … could still draw a speaking, nay scolding, likeness of Keate.
1862. P’cess Alice, Mem. (1884), 40. He has painted a most beautiful picture of the Grand Duchess Hélène—quite speaking.
4. Speaking demurrer: (see quot.).
1887. Cassell’s Encycl. Dict., Speaking-demurrer, Law, a demurrer in which new facts not appearing upon the face of a bill in equity were introduced to support a demurrer.
5. Speaking-flame lamp, a safety lamp which announces the presence of explosive gas by giving out a peculiar sound.
1883. Gresley, Gloss. Coal-mining, 230.
