oration

Noun

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. an instance of oratory“he delivered an oration on the decline of family values”
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Oration \O*ra"tion\, v. i. To deliver an oration. --Donne. [1913 Webster]
Oration \O*ra"tion\, n.[L. oratio, fr. orare to speak, utter, pray. See Oral, Orison.] An elaborate discourse, delivered in public, treating an important subject in a formal and dignified manner; especially, a discourse having reference to some special occasion, as a funeral, an anniversary, a celebration, or the like; -- distinguished from an argument in court, a popular harangue, a sermon, a lecture, etc.; as, Webster's oration at Bunker Hill. [1913 Webster]

The lord archbishop . . . made a long oration. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Address; speech. See Harangue. [1913 Webster]

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