[‘ That uses few words in speech or conversation; laconic.']
Pronunciation: Brit. /pɔːˈsɪləkw(ə)nt/, U.S. /pɔˈsɪləkwənt/
Etymology: < classical Latin /pauci-/ (see pauci- comb. form) + -loquent comb. form, after pauciloquy n. Compare post-classical Latin /pauciloquus/ that speaks little, of few words (13th cent., 14th cent. in British sources). Compare grandiloquent adj., magniloquent adj.
A related word pauciloquous is also recorded (1724 in an isolated attestation).
/rare/.
That uses few words in speech or conversation; laconic.
1656 T. Blount /Glossographia/, /Pauciloquent/.., that speaketh little.
1863 C. G. Leland /There was Sharp Lawyer/ in /Bk. of Copperheads/ 26/2 All he would say was ‘ah!’ ‘h’m!’ ‘oh!’ and ‘ay!’ This pauciloquent person named P—.
1973 /Times/ 5 Mar. 8/4 The trilingual but pauciloquent ‘word score’ [of an opera].
2002 /MX/ (Nexis) 13 Aug. 9 Someone who is ‘pauciloquent’ uses as few words as possible when conversing.
Derivatives
pauˈciloquently adv. /rare/ with few words.
1844 J. W. Wallace /Reporters/ 33 The pauciloquently praising Lord Eldon.