parviloquium

parviloquium [LL] 1 (act of) moderate or little talking. c1400 ad mensam accedentes sacerdotes in ~io ‥ non vana, non laciva proferant (J. Mirk Man. Sac.) MS BL Harley 5306 f. 53v. 2 short conversation or discussion. 1591 cancellarius et archidiaconus Lincoln’ in choro ad ~ium capitulariter congregati Stat. Linc. II 597. 3 (cf LL praviloquium) belittling or disparaging remark. si ‥ a garrulitate superflua ~iove desistere non possis E. Thrip. SS IV 28.