n. [ F. rhétorique, L. rhetorica, Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; (sc. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;), fr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_; rhetorical, oratorical, fr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_; orator, rhetorician; perhaps akin to E. word; cf. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_; to say. ] 1. The art of composition; especially, elegant composition in prose. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Oratory; the art of speaking with propriety, elegance, and force. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Hence, artificial eloquence; fine language or declamation without conviction or earnest feeling. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Fig. : The power of persuasion or attraction; that which allures or charms. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sweet, silent rhetoric of persuading eyes. Daniel. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. rhetoricus, Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;. See Rhetoric. ] Of or pertaining to rhetoric; according to, or exhibiting, rhetoric; oratorical; as, the rhetorical art; a rhetorical treatise; a rhetorical flourish. [ 1913 Webster ]

They permit him to leave their poetical taste ungratified, provided that he gratifies their rhetorical sense. M. Arnold. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Rhe*tor"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Rhe*tor"ic*al*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ L. rhetoricari. See Rhetoric. ] To play the orator. [ Obs. ] South. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. rhétorication. ] Rhetorical amplification. [ Obs. ] Waterland. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. rhétoricien. ] 1. One well versed in the rules and principles of rhetoric. [ 1913 Webster ]

The understanding is that by which a man becomes a mere logician and a mere rhetorician. F. W. Robertson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A teacher of rhetoric. [ 1913 Webster ]

The ancient sophists and rhetoricians, which ever had young auditors, lived till they were an hundred years old. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An orator; specifically, an artificial orator without genuine eloquence; a declaimer. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Suitable to a master of rhetoric. “With rhetorician pride.” Blackmore. [ 1913 Webster ]