oratory Hear it!

oratory Definition

ora·tory (ôrə tôr′ē, är-)

noun pl. -·ries

  1. the art of an orator; skill or eloquence in public speaking
  2. Etymology: ME oratorie < LL(Ec) oratorium, place of prayer < L oratorius, of an orator (in Eccles. use, of praying) < orator

    a small chapel, esp. one for private prayer
  3. R.C.Ch. a religious society of secular priests, esp. that founded by Saint Philip Neri in 1564

Etymology: ME oratorie < L oratoria

oratory Synonyms

oratory

n.

speech, rhetoric, eloquence, elocution; see speech 3.

oratory Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • sort: The people have always been amenable to oratory of this sort.

Converse of object

  • have: She shrugs her shoulders and tells Miss Thorne that she supposes Eleanor will have an oratory in the deanery before she has done.
  • make: The German language is a lovely language for making mob oratory in.
  • found: In May 1992 it was redecorated in honor of St Philip Neri, the saint who founded the Oratory in sixteenth century Rome.
  • join: He was ordained priest in the Spring of 1914 and in the Autumn of 1915 he joined the Oratory.
  • call: I have become increasingly skeptical of the value of that survival of epideictic oratory called " the formal lecture " .
  • use: This is precisely the reverse of the battlefield oratory used to motivate British troops a century ago.

Adjective modifier

  • small: There are many small oratories round the West Coast where chiefs and clansmen were wont to pray before and after voyaging.
  • brilliant: During 1838 he toured the country raising the movement's profile with his brilliant oratory.
  • public: Or maybe it's Cameron's lack of experience in his public oratory?
  • great: His brilliant administration great oratory and unfailing optimism brought Britain from the brink of defeat to victory against Nazi Germany.
  • Welsh: It is the " hwyl, " without which Welsh oratory is considered imperfect.
  • good: I expect Hague would win each one, on account of his good oratory, but this is no substitute for policies.

Modifies a noun

  • skill: Online Elocution Lessons are merely a modern way to improve your oratory skills through the internet rather than in a face to face setting.
  • ability: In Luger, Hitler admired his great oratory abilities and his pragmatic approach to political problems.
  • style: Heard's broad philosophical themes and scintillating oratory style attracted and influenced many people.

Noun used with modifier

  • pulpit: Anderson entered the Wesleyan itinerancy in 1812 and swiftly achieved a strong reputation for pulpit oratory particularly on missionary platforms.
oratory Quotes

Poetry must be read as music and not as oratory.

—Pound, Ezra Loomis

Browse dictionary entries near oratory

  1. oratorio
  2. oratorically
  3. oratorical
  4. Oratorian
  5. orator
  6. oration
  7. orate
  8. orangy
  9. orangutan
  10. orangewood
  1. orb
  2. orbicular
  3. orbit
  4. orbital index
  5. orbited
  6. orbiter
  7. orbiting
  8. orc
  9. orca
  10. orcein