ser·mon
Audio Help [sur-muh
n] Pronunciation Key
—Related forms
Audio Help [sur-muh
n] Pronunciation Key –noun
| 1. | a discourse for the purpose of religious instruction or exhortation, esp. one based on a text of Scripture and delivered by a member of the clergy as part of a religious service. |
| 2. | any serious speech, discourse, or exhortation, esp. on a moral issue. |
| 3. | a long, tedious speech. |
[Origin: 1150–1200; ME < ML sermōn- (s. of sermō) speech from pulpit, L: discourse, equiv. to ser- (base of serere to link up, organize) + -mōn- n. suffix
]
] —Related forms
ser·mon·less, adjective
—Synonyms 2, 3. lecture. 3. harangue, tirade.
| Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. |
sermon
To learn more about sermon visit Britannica.com
| © 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |
| ser·mon
Audio Help (sûr'mən) Pronunciation Key
n.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin sermō, sermōn-, discourse; see ser-2 in Indo-European roots.] ser·mon'ic (-mŏn'ĭk), ser·mon'i·cal (-ĭ-kəl) adj. |
| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
sermon
c.1200, from Anglo-Fr. sermun, O.Fr. sermon, from L. sermonem (nom. sermo) "discourse, speech, talk," originally "a stringing together of words," related to serere "to join" (see series). Main sense in Eng. and Fr. is eliptical for L. sermo religiosus. Dim. form sermonette is attested from 1814.
| Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper |
| sermon | |
noun | |
| 1. | an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service) |
| 2. | a moralistic rebuke; "your preaching is wasted on him" |
| WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University. |
sermon [ˈsəːmən] noun
a serious talk, especially one given in church based on or discussing a passage in the Bible
Example: The text for this morning's sermon is taken from the fifth chapter of Exodus.
Example: The text for this morning's sermon is taken from the fifth chapter of Exodus.
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| Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary, © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd. |
Sermon
Ser*moc`i*na"tion\, n. [L. sermocinatio. See Sermon.] The making of speeches or sermons; sermonizing. [Obs.] --Peacham.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Sermon
Ser"mon\, n. [OE. sermoun, sermun, F. sermon, fr. L. sermo, -onis, a speaking, discourse, probably fr. serer, sertum, to join, connect; hence, a connected speech. See Series.]1. A discourse or address; a talk; a writing; as, the sermons of Chaucer. [Obs.] --Chaucer. 2. Specifically, a discourse delivered in public, usually by a clergyman, for the purpose of religious instruction and grounded on some text or passage of Scripture. This our life exempt from public haunts Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones and good in everything. --Shak. His preaching much, but more his practice, wrought, A living sermon of the truths he taught. --Dryden. 3. Hence, a serious address; a lecture on one's conduct or duty; an exhortation or reproof; a homily; -- often in a depreciatory sense.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Sermon
Ser"mon\, v. i. [Cf. OF. sermoner, F. sermonner to lecture one.] To speak; to discourse; to compose or deliver a sermon. [Obs.] --Holinshed. What needeth it to sermon of it more? --Chaucer.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
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