xenoglossia
xenoglossia Lexical Profile
xenoglossia Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The purported ability to speak, write, or understand a foreign language that the individual could not possibly have learned by natural means, often studied in the context of parapsychology, spiritualism, or reincarnation claims.
"The psychiatrist documented a controversial case of apparent xenoglossia, wherein the hypnotized subject began speaking fluent 18th-century Swedish despite having no prior exposure to the language."
Word Nuance & Usage
Xenoglossia is heavily distinguished from 'glossolalia' (speaking in tongues); glossolalia involves vocalizing nonsensical, language-like syllables, whereas xenoglossia refers strictly to the purported use of a genuine, existing human language entirely unlearned by the speaker.
• Rhymes for xenoglossia
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the early 20th century by French parapsychologist Charles Richet, derived from the Greek 'xenos' (foreign or strange) and 'glossa' (tongue or language), combined with the suffix '-ia'.