n.[ L. oratio, fr. orare to speak, utter, pray. See Oral, Orison. ] An elaborate discourse, delivered in public, treating an important subject in a formal and dignified manner; especially, a discourse having reference to some special occasion, as a funeral, an anniversary, a celebration, or the like; -- distinguished from an argument in court, a popular harangue, a sermon, a lecture, etc.;
The lord archbishop . . . made a long oration. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. i. To deliver an oration. Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ L., fr. orare to speak, utter. See Oration. ]
I am no orator, as Brutus is. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
Some orator renowned
In Athens or free Rome. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Oratorical. [ R. ] Swift. --
a. Oratorical. [ Obs. ] R. North. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Cf. F. oratorien. ] (R. C. Ch.) See
a. Of or pertaining to an orator or to oratory; characterized by oratory; rhetorical; becoming to an orator;
n. [ It., fr. L. oratorius belonging to praying. See Orator, and cf. Oratory. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ There are instances of secular and mythological subjects treated in the form of the oratorios, and called oratorios by their composers; as Haydn's “Seasons, ” Handel's “Semele, ” etc. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ LL. oratorius. ] Oratorical. [ Obs. ] Jer. Taylor. --
v. i. To play the orator. [ Jocose or derisive ] Dickens. [ 1913 Webster ]