declamation
Americannoun
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the act or art of declaiming.
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exercise in oratory or elocution, as in the recitation of a classic speech.
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speech or writing for oratorical effect.
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Music. the proper enunciation of the words, as in recitative.
noun
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a rhetorical or emotional speech, made esp in order to protest or condemn; tirade
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a speech, verse, etc, that is or can be spoken
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the act or art of declaiming
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music the artistry or technique involved in singing recitative passages
Etymology
Origin of declamation
1350–1400; < Latin dēclāmātiōn- (stem of dēclāmātiō ), equivalent to dēclāmāt ( us ) (past participle of dēclāmāre to declaim; see -ate 1) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
A declamation is a long, impassioned speech. Your heartfelt declamation to the school board about the quality of food in your school cafeteria may inspire the addition of a salad bar. Like a tirade or a rant, a declamation has a lot of strong feelings behind it. There's more formality to a declamation, though — imagine a heartfelt and fiery response on a debate stage. The original 14th century definition was "a composition written to be declaimed," or delivered with passion and rhetoric.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Declamation and gesture have been rubbed by custom until they shine like polished pendants.
From Time Magazine Archive
"Declamation roar'd, while passion slept," said Dr. Johnson of the ranting style of early 18th century acting.
From Time Magazine Archive
Declamation was evidently more the Muse’s forte than argument, but her aside was an aside, and that of the jockey friend was not.
From The Three Brides by Yonge, Charlotte Mary
Declamation was made of three parts, two of which were the introductory bow and the concluding one.
From Revisiting the Earth by Hill, James Langdon
Declamation also increases thirst, which accounts for the glass of water readers always seek to drink with grace, and which is always beside the white handkerchief on the desk.
From The Physiology of Taste by Robinson, Fayette
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
