sermon
Use Sermon in a sentence
mən noun
1.
a discourse for the purpose of religious instruction or exhortation, especially 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, especially on a moral issue.
3.
a long, tedious speech.
Origin:
1150–1200; Middle English < Medieval Latin sermōn- (stem of sermō) speech from pulpit, Latin: discourse, equivalent to ser- (base of serere to link up, organize) + -mōn- noun suffix
1150–1200; Middle English < Medieval Latin sermōn- (stem of sermō) speech from pulpit, Latin: discourse, equivalent to ser- (base of serere to link up, organize) + -mōn- noun suffix
Related forms
ser·mon·less, adjective
Synonyms
2, 3. lecture. 3. harangue, tirade.
2, 3. lecture. 3. harangue, tirade.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To sermon
00:10
Sermon
is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
| an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
sermon (ˈsɜːmən) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a. an address of religious instruction or exhortation, often based on a passage from the Bible, esp one delivered during a church service |
| b. a written version of such an address | |
| 2. | a serious speech, esp one administering reproof |
| [C12: via Old French from Latin sermō discourse, probably from serere to join together] | |
| sermonic | |
| —adj | |
| ser'monical | |
| —adj | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
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, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Because he would not write out his sermon in advance, as the course demanded.
Most are threaded through with exercise, therapy and naps, staff meetings and sermon writing.
According to a famous legend, he even preached a sermon to the birds.
He even bets the film crew that he can give a sermon about a banana-bread recipe and no one will question him.
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