oratory1
[awr-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, or-]
- skill or eloquence in public speaking: The evangelist moved thousands to repentance with his oratory.
- the art of public speaking, especially in a formal and eloquent manner.
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Origin of oratory1
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comoratory2
[awr-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, or-]
- a place of prayer, as a small chapel or a room for private devotions.
- (initial capital letter) Roman Catholic Church. any of the religious societies of secular priests who live in religious communities but do not take vows.
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Origin of oratory2
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
eloquence, rhetoric, grandiloquence, diction, articulation, declamation, speech, elocution, speakingExamples from the Web for oratory
Contemporary Examples
For his oratory work he was paid over $1.3 million (a significant amount of which he donated to charity).
He launches into a flight of oratory on the past greatness of Petra.
And for good reason: images of the crowd at political conventions can be as important as the oratory.
That kind of oratory is not necessarily unusual in Arab countries, even those at peace with Israel.
Coombs closed his oratory with a soaring appeal to conscience.
Historical Examples
The perfection of oratory is like the perfection of anything else; natural power must be aided by art.
PhaedrusPlato
If oratory is to be judged of by its effects, Csar's sermon was a great oration.
The ManxmanHall Caine
This was a new and unfamiliar style of oratory in the Senate of the United States.
Union and DemocracyAllen Johnson
When night fell, oratory was again rampant in all parts of the city.
The Confessions of a Caricaturist, Vol 2 (of 2)Harry Furniss
But no oratory and no arguments would have availed with that House.
The Story of the Upper Canada Rebellion, Volume 1John Charles Dent
oratory1
- the art of public speaking
- rhetorical skill or style
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin (ars) ōrātōria (the art of) public speaking
oratory2
- a small room or secluded place, set apart for private prayer
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Word Origin
C14: from Anglo-Norman, from Church Latin ōrātōrium place of prayer, from ōrāre to plead, pray
Oratory
- Also called: Congregation of the Oratory the religious society of secular priests (Oratorians) living in a community founded by St Philip Neri
- any church belonging to this societythe Brompton Oratory
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for 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).
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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).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper