oratory
pronunciation
How to pronounce oratory in British English:
UK [ˈɒrətri]
How to pronounce oratory in American English:
US [ˈɔrətɔri]
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- Noun:
- addressing an audience formally (usually a long and rhetorical address and often pompous)
Word Origin
- oratory (n.1)
- "formal public speaking, the art of eloquence," 1580s, from Latin (ars) oratoria "oratorical (art)," fem. of oratorius "of speaking or pleading, pertaining to an orator," from orare "to speak, pray, plead" (see orator).
- oratory (n.2)
- "small chapel," c. 1300, from Old French oratorie and directly from Late Latin oratorium "place of prayer" (especially the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Rome, where musical services were presented), noun use of an adjective, as in oratorium templum, from neuter of Latin oratorius "of or for praying," from orare "to pray, plead, speak" (see orator).
Example
- 1. Will mr obama 's rousing oratory bear fruit ?
- 2. A large part of his reputation rested on his passionate oratory on behalf of the accused .
- 3. His oratory drew tears from his audience .
- 4. For a lame-duck president not known for gifted oratory , that might be a welcome statistic .
- 5. Despite the misty nostalgia sometimes evinced for the titanic statesmen and oratory of yore , this is not a new problem .