Which meaning best fits eloquent?

• A. Unemotional and cold in manner
• B. Lacking skill in expression
• C. Movingly or vividly expressive
• D. Related to nerve function

Answer: (C)

Eloquent means language that is fluent, persuasive, and capable of moving people. That makes movingly or vividly expressive the best fit, because it captures the idea of words crafted to leave a strong emotional impression or to paint a clear, powerful picture in the listener’s mind. You often hear of an eloquent speaker whose expressions flow smoothly and resonate with the audience. The other ideas describe things unrelated to expressive language: being unemotional and cold in manner points to a distant demeanor; lacking skill in expression signals poor communication; related to nerve function refers to biology, not how someone speaks or writes.