Oratory Definition

ôrə-tôrē, ŏr-
oratories
noun
The art of public speaking.
American Heritage
The art of an orator; skill or eloquence in public speaking.
Webster's New World
Public speaking marked by the use of overblown rhetoric.
American Heritage
A small chapel, esp. one for private prayer.
Webster's New World
A religious society of secular priests, esp. that founded by Saint Philip Neri in 1564
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Oratory

Noun

Singular:
oratory
Plural:
oratories

Origin of Oratory

  • Latin (ars) ōrātōria (art) of speaking feminine of ōrātōrius oratorical from ōrātor speaker from ōrātus past participle of ōrāre to speak

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English oratorie from Old French from Late Latin ōrātōrium place of prayer from Latin neuter of ōrātōrius for praying from ōrāre to pray

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Anglo-Norman oratorie, Middle French oratoire, and their source, Late Latin ōrātōrium.

    From Wiktionary

  • From Latin ōrātōria, from the feminine of ōrātōrius (“oratorial").

    From Wiktionary

Oratory Is Also Mentioned In

Find Similar Words

Find similar words to oratory using the buttons below.

Words Starting With

Words Ending With

Unscrambles

oratory