\El"o*quence\, n. [F. ['e]loquence, L. eloquentia, fr.
eloquens. See {Eloquent}.]
1. Fluent, forcible, elegant, and persuasive speech in
   public; the power of expressing strong emotions in
   striking and appropriate language either spoken or
   written, thereby producing conviction or persuasion.
         Eloquence is speaking out . . . out of the abundance
         of the heart.                         --Hare.
2. Fig.: Whatever produces the effect of moving and
   persuasive speech.
         Silence that spoke and eloquence of eyes. --Pope.
         The hearts of men are their books; events are their
         tutors; great actions are their eloquence.
                                               --Macaulay.
3. That which is eloquently uttered or written.
         O, let my books be then the eloquence And dumb
         presagers of my speaking breast.      --Shak.
Syn: Oratory; rhetoric.