a place of prayer, as a small chapel or a room for private devotions.
2.
(initial capital letter) Roman Catholic Church. any of the religious societies of secular priests who live in religious communities but do not take vows.
Origin: 1300–50; ME < LL ōrātōrium place of prayer. See orator, -tory2
Eloquence or skill in making speeches to the public.
Public speaking marked by the use of overblown rhetoric.
[Latin (ars) ōrātōria, (art) of speaking, feminine sing. of ōrātōrius, oratorical, from ōrātor, speaker, from ōrātus, past participle of ōrāre, to speak.]
or·a·to·ry 2 (ôr'ə-tôr'ē, -tōr'ē, ŏr'-) n.
pl.or·a·to·ries
A place for prayer, such as a small private chapel.
also Oratory
A Roman Catholic religious society founded in 1575 by Saint Philip Neri and consisting of secular priests.
A branch or church of this society.
[Middle English oratorie, from Old French, from Late Latin ōrātōrium, place of prayer, from Latin, neuter of ōrātōrius, for praying, from ōrāre, to pray.]
"formal public speaking, the art of eloquence," 1586, from L. (ars) oratoria "oratorical (art)," fem. of oratorius "of speaking or pleading," from orare (see orator).