perorate

American  

[per-uh-reyt] / ˈpɛr əˌreɪt /

verb (used without object)

perorated, perorating

1. to speak at length; make a long, usually grandiloquent speech.

2. to bring a speech to a close with a formal conclusion.

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perorate British  

/ ˈpɛrəˌreɪt /

verb

1. to speak at length, esp in a formal manner

2. to conclude a speech or sum up, esp with a formal recapitulation

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Other Word Forms

• perorator
  noun

Etymology

Origin of perorate

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin perōrātus, past participle of perōrāre; see origin at per-, orate

Explanation

To perorate is to give a long, pompous speech. If you were expecting your teacher's remarks at the beginning of class to be a quick announcement, your heart will sink when he begins to perorate. There are two ways to use this somewhat old-fashioned word. The first is as a near-synonym of "orate," although to perorate is to give an even more flowery, pretentious speech than a mere oration. If you perorate when it's your turn to comment at a town meeting, it's unlikely you'll be taken seriously. An older meaning of perorate is to end a long speech with a summary of your main points.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

perorate perorated perorating

“I’ll just look into my soft drink and listen to someone else perorate about me,” Sting said.

From Washington Post

He hears Burke perorate, and Johnson dogmatise, and Scott tell his border tales, and Wordsworth muse on the hillside, without the leave of any man, or the payment of any toll.

From English Prose A Series of Related Essays for the Discussion and Practice by Roe, Frederick William

A Premier potent may perorate free, At night, at night!

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 103, September 3, 1892 by Various

In vain does Lafayette fret, indignant; and perorate and strive: Patriots in the passion of terror, bellow round the Royal Carriage; it is one bellowing sea of Patriot terror run frantic.

From The French Revolution by Carlyle, Thomas

So little was he supposed to have spoken seriously that another, of whose ceasing to perorate there is no prospect, characterized his criticism in language so strong that it cannot well be repeated. 

From Lost Leaders by Ridge, W. Pett (William Pett)

He perorated: Recent events in Spanish Morocco were far from reassuring for the Spaniards.

From Time Magazine Archive

"Stench!" he perorated in a voice tremulous with emotion.

From The Day of Days An Extravaganza by Brown, Arthur William

“Who are you,” he perorated, “and what am I, that I should put my neck into the rope at your bidding?”

From The God of His Fathers: Tales of the Klondyke by London, Jack

He still perorated, still posed like a shop-walker, still behaved like a puppet, with its pulling strings in plainest evidence.

From In the Mist of the Mountains by Macfarlane, J.

Friday was Roland's day for receiving his colleagues at his table, where his wife presided and perorated.

From Marie Antoinette and the Downfall of Royalty by Imbert de Saint-Amand, Arthur Léon, baron

And in the corner of the paper a thumb-nail sketch of himself, perorating, with a garland of capital I's round his neck.

From The Marriage of William Ashe by Ward, Humphry, Mrs.

Did I hear our loquacious Fiddler perorating upon Life?

From First Plays by Milne, A. A. (Alan Alexander)

I had a vague impression of listening to gigantic marionettes, perorating through a trumpet, with the emphasis of Spaniards.

From Amiel's Journal by Ward, Humphry, Mrs.

Think, and ask yourselves, in spite of all this preaching and perorating from the teeth outward!

From Latter-Day Pamphlets by Carlyle, Thomas

And as there was no one less impatient under sentiment or poetry than madame, her feet began to agitate themselves as if Jules were perorating some of his culinary inanities before her.

From Balcony Stories by King, Grace E.