Category:Oration

O*ra"tion, n.Etym: [l. oratio, fr. orare to speak, utter, pray. See Oral, orison.]

Defn: 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. The lord archbishop. . . made a long oration. Bacon.

Syn. -- address; speech. See harangue.

Oration O*ra"tion, v. i.

Defn: to deliver an oration. Donne.