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oratory

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or⋅a⋅to⋅ry

1  [awr-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, or-]
Use oratory in a Sentence
–noun
1. skill or eloquence in public speaking: The evangelist moved thousands to repentance with his oratory.
2. the art of public speaking, esp. in a formal and eloquent manner.
Origin:
1580–90; < L ōrātōria, n. use of fem. of ōrātōrius of an orator. See orator, -tory 1

Synonyms:
1. rhetoric, delivery, declamation.
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or⋅a⋅to⋅ry

2  [awr-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, or-]
–noun, plural -ries.
1. 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, -tory 2
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To oratory
or·a·to·ry 1   (ôr'ə-tôr'ē, -tōr'ē, ŏr'-)   
n.  

  1. The art of public speaking.

  2. Eloquence or skill in making speeches to the public.

  3. 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

  1. A place for prayer, such as a small private chapel.

  2. also Oratory

    1. A Roman Catholic religious society founded in 1575 by Saint Philip Neri and consisting of secular priests.

    2. 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.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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