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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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Word Origin & History

oratory  (1)
"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).

oratory  (2)
"small chapel," c.1300, from L.L. oratorium "place of prayer" (especially the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Rome, where musical services were presented), properly an adj., as in oratorium templum, from neut. of L. oratorius "of or for praying," from orare (see orator).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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