oration 
Pg. orafan = It. orazione, < L. oratio(n-), a 
speaking, speech, harangue, eloquence, prose, 
in LL. a prayer, < oran, speak, treat, argue, 
plead, pray, beseech, < OK (or-), the mouth : see 
oral. Cf. adore 1 , i-j-orahlr, orator, orimt, etc., 
from the same L. verb.] 1. A formal speech 
or discourse ; an eloquent or weighty address. 
The word is now applied chiefly to discourses pronounced 
on special occasions, as a funeral oration, an oration on some 
anniversary, etc., and to academic declamations. 
Upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon 
his throne, and made an oration unto them. Acts xii. 21. 
Orations are pleadings, speeches of counsel, laudatives, 
invectives, apologies, reprehensions, orations of formality 
or ceremony, and the like. 
Bacon, Advancement of Learning, ii. 140. 
2f. A prayer; supplication; petition. 
Finding not onely by his speeches and letters, but by 
the pitifull oration of a languishing behaviour, . . . that 
despaire began now to threaten him destruction. 
Sir P. Sidney, Arcadia, iii. 
3. Noise; uproar. HaUitefll. [Pro v. Eng.] 
Olyntniac orations. See Olynthiac. = Syn. 1. Address, 
Harangue, etc. See speech. 
orationt (o-ra'shon), f. '. [< oration, .] To 
make an 'address; deliver a speech. Donne, 
Hist. Septuagint. 
orationert (o-ra'shon-er), n. One who presents 
a supplication or petition ; a petitioner. 
We, your most humble subjects, daily orationen, and 
bedesmen of your realm of England. 
Submission of the Clergy to Henry VIII. (R. W. Dixon's 
[Hist. Church of Eng., ii., note). 
orationes, n. Plural of oratio. 
oratiuncle (6-ra-shi-ung'kl), . [< L. oratiun- 
cula, dim. of oratio(n-), a speech, oration: see 
oration.] A brief oration. [Rare.] 
One or other of the two had risen, and in a short, plain, 
unvarnished oratiuncle, told the company that the thing 
must be done. Hoctes Atnbrottiance, Sept., 183-2. 
orator (or'a-tor), n. [Formerly also oratour; < 
ME. oratour, < OF. oratour, F. orateur = Pr. 
Sp. Pg. orador = It. oratore, < L. orator, a 
spokesman, speaker, orator, pleader, prayer, 
< mare, speak, plead, pray: see oration.] 1. 
A public speaker ; one who delivers an oration ; 
a person who pronounces a discourse publicly 
on some special occasion ; a pleader or lawyer. 
For, behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, doth take away 
from Jerusalem and from Judah . . . the honourable man, 
and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the elo- 
quent orator. Isa. iii. 1,3. 
A certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the gov- 
ernor against Paul. Actsxxiv. 1. 
2. An eloquent public speaker; one who is 
skilled as a speaker; an eloquent man: as, he 
writes and reasons well, but is no orator. 
I came not, friends, to steal away your hearts : 
I am no orator, as Brutus is. Shak., J. C., iii. 2. 221. 
3. A spokesman; an advocate; a defender; one 
who defends by pleading; one who argues in 
favor of a person or a cause. 
Henry [VIII.] deputes a Bishop to be resident " as oar 
orator " at Rome. Oliphant, New English, I. 389. 
Be not thy tongue thy own shame's orator. 
Shak., C. of E., iii. 2. 10. 
I must go live with him ; 
And I will prove so good an orator 
In your behalf that you again shall gain him. 
Beau, and Ft., Laws of Candy, 11. 1. 
4. In law, the plaintiff or petitioner in a bill or 
information in chancery. 5f. Anorationer; a 
petitioner ; one who offers a prayer or petition. 
Mekly besechyth your hyghness your poore and trew 
contynuall servant and oratour, John Fasten. 
Paston Letters, III. 76. 
Your continual orator, John Careless, the most unpront- 
able servant of the Lord. 
J. Careless, in Bradford's Letters (Parker Soc., 1843), II. 241. 
6. An officer of English universities: see the 
quotation. 
A Public Orator, who is the voice of the Senate upon all 
public occasions. He writes letters in the name of the 
University, records proceedings, and has charge of all writ- 
ings and documents delivered to him by the Chancellor. 
Cambridge University Calendar. 
oratorial (or-a-to'ri-al), a. [< L. oratorius, of 
an orator (see oratory), + -al.~\ Same as ora- 
torical. 
Now the first of these oratorial machines, in place as 
well as dignity, is the pulpit. Sit^ft, Tale of a Tub, i. 
oratorially (or-a-to'ri-al-i), adv. Same as ora- 
torically. 
oratorian (or-a-to'ri-an), a. and n. [< oratory + 
-an."] I.t a. Same as oratorical. Roger North, 
Exameu, p. 420. 
II. . Eccles., a priest of the oratory. See 
oratory, 4. 
oratorio (or-a-tor'ik), a. [< orator + -ic.~\ Same 
as oratorical: as, "oratorio art," J. Hartley, Es- 
says, p. 350. 
4138 
oratorical (or-ii-tor'i-kal), (i. [< oratorio + -al. ] 
iVrtiiining to an orator or to oratory; rhetori- 
cal ; becoming, befitting, or necessary (<> 1111 
orator: as, oratorical flourishes; to speak in an 
oratorical way. 
Each man has a faculty, a poetical faculty, or an ora- 
torical faculty, which special education improves to a cer- 
tain extent. //. Spencer, I'rin. of Biology, 87. 
oratorically (or-a-tor'i-kal-i), adv. In an ora- 
torical manner. 
oratorio (or-a-to'ri-6), n. [< It. oratorio, < LL. 
oratorium, a place of prayer, an oratory or a 
chapel. The name was originally given to 
sacred musical works because they were first 
performed in the oratory of the church of Sta. 
Maria in Vallicella, under the patronage of 
Philip Neri: see oratory. ~\ 1. A place of wor- 
ship; a chapel; an oratory. 2. A form of ex- 
tended musical composition, more or less dra- 
matic in character, based upon a religious (or 
occasionally a heroic) theme, and intended to 
be performed without dramatic action and sce- 
nery. The modern oratorio and opera both date from fhe 
musical revolution in Italy, about 1600, and were originally 
indistinguishable from each other, except that one was sa- 
cred and the other secular in subject. Both employed the 
same musical means, such as recitatives, arias, duets, cho- 
ruses, instrumental accompaniments and passages, and at 
first even dancing also (for which see opera), and both were 
dramatically presented. But before 1700, particularly in 
Germany, the oratorio began to be clearly differentiated 
from the opera, in the relinquishment of dramatic action 
and accessories, though not usually of dramatic personifi- 
cation, in the more serious and reflective treatment of both 
arias and choruses, and in the freer use throughout of con- 
trapuntal resources. The oratorio, therefore, came to be- 
long essentially to the class concert music, with more or 
less of the qualities of church music. The true oratorio 
style has never been popular in either Italy or France, but 
has had a remarkable development in both Germany and 
England. The strong predilection which existed before 
1600 for passion-plays led in Germany directly to the culti- 
vation of what is called the passion-oratorio or passion- 
music, the theme being the passion and death of Christ, and 
the whole work being conceived from a decidedly liturgi- 
cal standpoint. The most famous example of this style is 
the "Passion according to St. Matthew ''of J. 8. Bach. In 
England the works of Handel in the early part of the eigh- 
teenth century initiated an interest in the concert oratorio 
which has been constant and wide-spread. The method of 
treatment of the English oratorio has varied considerably, 
from the epic and contemplative to the representative and 
dramatic, with more or less of the lyrical intermingled. 
While the oratorio style in general has seldom attained 
to the passionate intensity and complexity of the opera, 
it has outstripped the latter in the expression of the lofty 
spiritual emotions connected with religious thought. Its 
independence of theatrical limitations has made possible 
a far more free and elaborate handling of the chorus as a 
separate artistic means, so that most oratorios are essen- 
tially choral works. The oratorio has never occupied the 
same position of social importance as the opera, but it 
has perhaps contributed more to the world's store of new 
artistic conceptions. 
3. The words or text of an oratorio: an ora- 
torio libretto. 
oratorioust (or-a-to'ri-us), a. [< L. oratorius: 
see oratory, o.] Oratorical; rhetorical. 
Here it is ... gentlemen and scholars bring their es- 
says, poems, translations, and other oratorious productions 
upon a thousand curious subjects. Evelyn, To Pepys. 
oratoriouslyt (or-a-to'ri-us-li), adv. In an ora- 
torical or rhetorical manner. 
oratorize (or'a-tor-iz), v. i. ; pret. and pp. ora- 
torized, ppr. oratorizing. [< orator + -i>e .] To 
act the orator; harangue like an orator. Also 
spelled oratorise. [Rare or colloq.] 
The same hands 
That yesterday to hear me concionate 
And oratorize rung shrill plaudits forth. 
Webster, Appius and Virginia, v. 3. 
In this order they reached the magistrate's house ; the 
chairmen trotting, the prisoners following, Mr. Pickwick 
oratorising, and the crowd shouting. 
Dickens, Pickwick, xxiv. 
oratory (or'a-to-ri), a. and n. [I. a. = F. ora- 
toire = Sp. Pg. It. oratorio, < L. oratorius, of or 
belonging to an orator, < orator, an orator: see 
orator. II. n. (o) In def . 1 = Sp. Pg. It. oratorio, 
< L. oratoria (sc. ar(t-)s, art), the orator's art, 
oratory, fern, of oratorius, of or belonging to an 
orator. (6) In def. 4, < ME. oratory, oratorye, 
< OF.oratoire, F.oratoire = Sp.Pg. It. oratorio/ 
LL. oratorium, a place of prayer (ML. and Rom. 
a chapel, oratorio, etc.: see oratorio), neut. of 
L. oratorius, of or belonging to an orator (or to 
praying) : see above.] I.t a. Oratorio : as, an 
oratory style. E. Phillips, 1706. 
II. . 1. The art of an orator; the art of 
speaking well, or of speaking according to the 
rules of rhetoric, in order to please or persuade ; 
the art of public speaking. The three princi- 
pal branches of this art are deliberative, ejiiilit'- 
tic, and judicial oratory. See epidictic. 2. Ex- 
ercise of eloquence; eloquent language; elo- 
quence: as, all his oratory was spent in vain. 
orb 
Sighs now breathed 
Unutterable ; which the Spirit of prayer 
Inspired, and wing'd for heaven with speedier flight 
Than loudest oratory. IHlten, P. L. , xi. 8. 
When a world of men 
Could not prevail with all their oratory, 
Vet hath a woman's kindness over-ruled. 
Shak., 1 Hen. VI., ii. 2. 49. 
3f. Prayer; supplication: the act of beseech- 
ing or petitioning. 
The prettie lambes with bleating oratorie craved the 
dammes comfort. Sir P. Sidney, Arcadia, i. 
4. PI. oratories (-riz). A place for prayer or 
worship. Specifically (a) In the early church, a place 
of prayer ; especially, a small separate building, usually a 
memoria or martyry, at some distance from any city or 
church, used for private prayei', but not for celebration 
of the sacraments or congregational worship, (b) Any 
small chapel for religions service attached to a house, 
church, college, monastery, etc. The canon la\v, in the 
Roman Catholic Church, determines the conditions under 
which mass may be said in an oratory, which is primarily 
for prayer only. 
He estward hath upon the gate above . . . 
Don make an auter and an oratorye. 
Chaucer, Knight's Tale, 1. 1047. 
Every one of the 10 chapels, or oratories, had some Saints 
in them. Evelyn, Diary, Nov. 12, 1643. 
And afterwardes she made there her Oratorye, and vsed 
to sey her deuocions and prayers moste commenly in the 
same place. Sir R. Guylforde, Pylgrymage, p. 2fl. 
Oratory of our Lord Jesus Christ, in France, com- 
monly called the Oratory, a Roman Catholic congregation 
of priests founded in Paris in 1611, and overthrown at 
the time of the revolution. Its rule was followed by 
the Oratory of the Immaculate Conception, founded in 
1852. -Oratory Of St. Philip Neri, a Roman Catholic 
religious order founded at Florence by Filippo Neri in 
1575: so named from a chapel he built for it and called 
an oratory. It is composed of simple priests under 
no vows. Its chief seat is Italy, but congregations were 
founded in England in 1847 and 1849 under the leader- 
ship of former members of the Anglican Church. =Syn. 
1 and 2. Oratory, Rhetoric, Elocution, Eloquence. Ora- 
tory is the art or the act of speaking, or the speech. 
Rhetoric is the theory of the art of composing discourse 
in either the spoken or the written form. Elocution is 
the manner of speaking or the theory of the art of speak- 
ing (see elocution) ; the word is equally applicable to the 
presentation of one's own or of another's thoughts. Elo- 
quence is a word which has been made the expression for 
the highest power of speech in producing the effect de- 
sired, especially if the desire be to move the feelings or 
the will. Many efforts have been made to define eloquence, 
some regarding it as a gift and some as an art. "It is a 
gift of the soul, which makes us masters of the minds and 
hearts of others." (La Bruytre.) 
oratress (or'a-tres), n. [< orator + -ess. Cf. 
oratrix.] Same as oratrix. Warner, Albion's 
England, ii. 9. 
oratrix (or'ii-triks), . [< L. oratrix, she that 
speaks or prays, fern, of orator, one who speaks 
or prays: see orator. Cf. oratress."] 1. A female 
orator. 
I fight not with my tongue : this is my oratrix. 
Kyd (f), Soliman and Perseda. 
2. In law, a female petitioner or female plain- 
tiff in a bill in chancery. 
orb 1 (6rb), n. [< F. orbe = Sp. Pg. It. orbe, < 
L. orbis, a circle, wheel, disk, the disk or orb of 
the sun or moon, etc.] 1. A circle; a circular 
surface, track, path, or course; an orbit; a 
ring; also, that which is circular, as a shield: 
as, the orb of the moon. 
I serve the fairy queen 
To dew her orbs upon the green. 
Shak., M. N. D., ii. 1. 9. 
He hasted, and opposed the rocky orb 
Of tenfold adamant, his ample shield, 
A vast circumference. Milton, P. L., vi. 254. 
2. A sphere or spheroidal body ; a globe; a ball. 
What a hell of witchcraft lies 
In the small orb of one particular tear. 
Shak., Lover's Complaint, 1. 280. 
Cluster'd flower-bells and ambrosial orbs 
Of rich fruit-bunches leaning on each other. 
Tennyson, Isabel. 
Hence 3. The earth or one of the heavenly 
bodies ; in particular, the sun or the moon. 
There 's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st 
But in his motion like an angel sings. 
Shalr., M. of V., v. 1. 60. 
4. The eye; an eyeball: so called from its 
spheroidal shape, and the comparison between 
its luminous brilliancy and that of the stars. 
[Rhetorical.] 
Black Eyes, in your dark Orbs doth lie 
My ill or happy Destiny. 
Hmeell, Letters, I. v. 22. 
These eyes that roll in vain 
To find thy piercing ray, and find no dawn ; 
So thick a drop serene hath quench'd their orbs, 
Or dim suffusion veil'd. Milton, P. L., iii. 25. 
5. A hollow globe ; specifically, in anc. astron., 
a hollow globe or sphere supposed to form part 
of the solar or sidereal system. The ancient as- 
tronomers supposed the heavens to consist of such orbs 
or spheres inclosing one another, being concentric, and 
carrying with them in their revolutions the planets. That 
