Dictionary Thesaurus Word Dynamo Quotes Reference Translator Spanish

oratorical

[awr-uh-tawr-i-kuhl, or-uh-tor-]

Origin

adjective

of, pertaining to, or characteristic of an orator or oratory: His oratorical prowess has led to political success.

given to oratory: an oratorical speaker.

Origin:
1610–20; orator, orator(y)¹ + -ical

Related forms

or·a·tor·i·cal·ly, adverb

sem·i·or·a·tor·i·cal, adjective

sem·i·or·a·tor·i·cal·ly, adverb

su·per·o·ra·tor·i·cal, adjective

su·per·o·ra·tor·i·cal·ly, adverb

EXPAND

un·or·a·tor·i·cal, adjective

un·or·a·tor·i·cal·ly, adverb

COLLAPSE

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source

Link To oratorical

00:10

00:09

00:08

00:07

00:06

00:05

00:04

00:03

00:02

00:01

Oratorical has a plethora of syllables.

So is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. Does it mean:

an obscure term ostensibly referring to a lung disease caused by silica dust, sometimes cited as one of the longest words in the English language.

(used as a nonsense word by children to express approval or to represent the longest word in English.)

LEARN MORE LONG WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

Collins

World English Dictionary

oratory¹ (ˈɒrətərɪ, -trɪ)

—n
1.	the art of public speaking
2.	rhetorical skill or style

[C16: from Latin (ars) ōrātōria (the art of) public speaking]

ora'torical¹

—*adj*

ora'torically¹

—*adv*

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source

Etymonline

Word Origin & History

oratorical

1610s, from L. oratorius (see oratory (1)).

Word Dynamo Rating For Oratorical

People who can define Oratorical may know 6,112 words.

How many words do you know?

Upgrade to Ad-free Premium Membership!

Related Words

declaim spout declamation

declamation declamatory

Matching Quote

"As debate is rare in the House of Representatives, since nearly all real business is done in the committees, it is very natural that such debate as there is should be very oratorical, should be "sounding off," not discussion. And this is one of the reasons why public speaking in America is still so rhetorical, why audiences for example do not often "heckle" a speaker, bombard him with questions, or embarrass him with ironical applause or laughter. It is almost as rare to interrupt a political speech as it is to interrupt a sermon. In the Senate, things are different. Any senator who can get the floor can talk as long as his wind lasts. He cannot be out of order unless he takes the most extravagant liberties. So Senate debates are often lively, often educational. They are very different from the formal pieces declaimed in the other house, or even printed and sent to the voters without being spoken at all. A senator has to persuade his colleagues, even those of his own party, or he has to intimidate them, and so the Senate has a high representation of public speakers who can discuss as well as declaim."

-D.W. Brogan

Partners:Word Bloglines Citysearch The Daily Beast Ask Answers Ask Kids Life123 Sendori Thesaurus

About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help