Oration - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

o·ra·tion

Audio Help [aw-rey-shuh

n, oh-rey-] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	a formal public speech, esp. one delivered on a special occasion, as on an anniversary, at a funeral, or at academic exercises.

2.	a public speech characterized by a studied or elevated style, diction, or delivery.

[Origin: 1325–75; ME oracion < L ōrātiōn- (s. of ōrātiō) speech, prayer, equiv. to ōrāt(us) (ptp. of ōrāre to plead, deriv. of ōr-, s. of ōs mouth) + -iōn- -ion

]

—Synonyms 1. See speech. 2. discourse, declamation.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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Oration

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

o·ra·tion Audio Help (ô-rā'shən, ō-rā'-) Pronunciation Key
n.

A formal speech, especially one given on a ceremonial occasion.
A speech delivered in a high-flown or pompous manner.

[Middle English oracion, prayer, from Late Latin ōrātiō, ōrātiōn-, from Latin, discourse, from ōrātus, past participle of ōrāre, to speak.]

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
oration

c.1375, "prayer," from L.L. orationem (nom. oratio) "speaking, discourse, language, prayer," from L. oratus, pp. of orare (see orator). Meaning "formal speech, discourse" first recorded 1502.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

oration
noun
an instance of oratory; "he delivered an oration on the decline of family values"

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
oration [əˈreiʃən] noun

a formal, public speech, especially in fine, beautiful language
Example: a funeral oration

Arabic:	خِطاب، خُطْبَه
Chinese (Simplified):	演说，致辞
Chinese (Traditional):	演說，致辭
Czech:	proslov, řeč
Danish:	tale; -tale
Dutch:	rede
Estonian:	kõne
Finnish:	puhe
French:	discours solennel
German:	feierliche Rede
Greek:	δημόσιος λόγος, αγόρευση
Hungarian:	(nyilvános) beszéd
Icelandic:	viðhafnarræða
Indonesian:	pidato
Italian:	orazione, (discorso solenne)

Japanese:	演説
Korean:	정식 연설
Latvian:	runa
Lithuanian:	oracija, (pra)kalba
Norwegian:	høytidelig tale
Polish:	oracja, mowa
Portuguese (Brazil):	discurso, oração
Portuguese (Portugal):	oração
Romanian:	discurs (solemn)
Russian:	(торжественная) речь
Slovak:	reč
Slovenian:	slavnostni govor
Spanish:	discurso
Swedish:	högtidligt tal
Turkish:	söylev, nutuk

See also: oratory, orator

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Oration

Ha*rangue"\, n. [F. harangue: cf. Sp. arenda, It. aringa; lit., a speech before a multitude or on the hustings, It. aringo arena, hustings, pulpit; all fr. OHG. hring ring, anything round, ring of people, G. ring. See Ring.] A speech addressed to a large public assembly; a popular oration; a loud address a multitude; in a bad sense, a noisy or pompous speech; declamation; ranting.

Gray-headed men and grave, with warriors mixed, Assemble, and harangues are heard. --Milton.

Syn: Harangue, Speech, Oration.

Usage: Speech is generic; an oration is an elaborate and rhetorical speech; an harangue is a vehement appeal to the passions, or a noisy, disputatious address. A general makes an harangue to his troops on the eve of a battle; a demagogue harangues the populace on the subject of their wrongs.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Oration

O*ra"tion\, 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.; as, Webster's oration at Bunker Hill.

The lord archbishop . . . made a long oration. --Bacon.

Syn: Address; speech. See Harangue.

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