English → Latin
“gesture” in Latin
gerōto carry, bear; to manage, conduct (e.g., one's affairs); to rule, governmoveōto move, stir, set in motion; to disturb, shake, remove; to arouse, excite, promote, producegesticulātiōpantomimic gesture; gesticulationgesticulorto mimic, pantomime, gesticulate
The English word gesture itself goes back to Latin gerō, through gestūra.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
gesture
gestus (with reference to position; holding of the body, or of single parts of it; distinguishedfrom motus, the motion of the whole body; hence together, gestus motusque; motus gestusque: gestus is especially proper to actors; motus, to combatants, wrestlers, orators). To make gestures, gestum agere, facere: gestu uti: gestum componere (after the rules of art): all kinds of artistical pantomimic gestures which anybody makes at anything, gesticulatio: to make such gestures, gesticulari: one that makes such gestures, gesticulator (☞ all three, post- Augustin): to be unskilful in making gestures, gestum nescire: to make wrong gestures, peccare in gestu: to make a gesture at every word, gestu verba exprimere.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for gesture?
- The usual Latin words for “gesture” are gerō, moveō, gesticulātiō; also gesticulor. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.