1 definition by Speechcrafter
A wormtongue is someone who is skilled at using words in a maliciously insulting manner.
Worm refers to a serpent and tongue refers to the power of words/speech. It is a metaphor describing how the speaker's words could "bite" a person like a snake. It is not a reference to figurative meanings of the word "snake" such as a deceitful person, e.g. snake in the grass.
The term's origins have nothing to do with Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter. It existed long before either fiction was created.
Worm refers to a serpent and tongue refers to the power of words/speech. It is a metaphor describing how the speaker's words could "bite" a person like a snake. It is not a reference to figurative meanings of the word "snake" such as a deceitful person, e.g. snake in the grass.
The term's origins have nothing to do with Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter. It existed long before either fiction was created.
The wormtongue's words struck like the sting of a viper's bite.
Gunnlaugr Ormstunga was a famous Icelandic poet known as Gunnlaugr Wormtongue for his scathing and derogatory poetry.
Gunnlaugr Ormstunga was a famous Icelandic poet known as Gunnlaugr Wormtongue for his scathing and derogatory poetry.
by Speechcrafter November 12, 2012