ventriloquist

views updated May 17 2018

ven·tril·o·quist / venˈtriləkwist/ • n. a person who can speak or utter sounds so that they seem to come from somewhere else, esp. an entertainer who makes their voice appear to come from a dummy of a person or animal.DERIVATIVES: ven·tri·lo·qui·al / ˌventrəˈlōkwēəl/ adj.ven·tril·o·quism / -ˌkwizəm/ n.ven·tril·o·quize / -ˌkwīz/ v.ven·tril·o·quy / -kwē/ n.

ventriloquy

views updated Jun 08 2018

ventriloquy XVI. f. L. venter, ventr- belly + loquī speak; see -Y4.
So ventriloquism XVIII, ventriloquist XVII.