Adjacent Words

Declaim definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

DECLA'IM, v.i. [L. to cry out.]
1. To speak a set oration in public; to speak rhetorically; to make a formal speech, or oration; as, the students declaim twice a week.
2. To harangue; to speak loudly or earnestly, to a public body or assembly, with a view to convince their minds or move their passions.
DECLA'IM, v.t.
1. To speak in public.
2. To speak in favor of; to advocate.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: recite in elocution [syn: declaim, recite]
2: speak against in an impassioned manner; "he declaimed against the wasteful ways of modern society" [syn: declaim, inveigh]

Merriam Webster's

verb Etymology: Middle English declamen, from Latin declamare, from de- + clamare to cry out; akin to Latin calare to call — more at low Date: 14th century intransitive verb 1. to speak rhetorically; specifically to recite something as an exercise in elocution 2. to speak pompously or bombastically ; harangue transitive verb to deliver rhetorically <an actor declaiming his lines>; specifically to recite in elocution • declaimer noun • declamation noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. 1 intr. & tr. speak or utter rhetorically or affectedly. 2 intr. practise oratory or recitation. 3 intr. (foll. by against) protest forcefully. 4 intr. deliver an impassioned (rather than reasoned) speech. Derivatives: declaimer n. Etymology: ME f. F déclamer or f. L declamare (as DE-, CLAIM)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Declaim De*claim", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Declaimed; p. pr. & vb. n. Declaiming.] [L. declamare; de- + clamare to cry out: cf. F. d['e]clamer. See Claim.] 1. To speak rhetorically; to make a formal speech or oration; to harangue; specifically, to recite a speech, poem, etc., in public as a rhetorical exercise; to practice public speaking; as, the students declaim twice a week. 2. To speak for rhetorical display; to speak pompously, noisily, or theatrically; to make an empty speech; to rehearse trite arguments in debate; to rant. Grenville seized the opportunity to declaim on the repeal of the stamp act. --Bancroft.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Declaim De*claim", v. t. 1. To utter in public; to deliver in a rhetorical or set manner. 2. To defend by declamation; to advocate loudly. [Obs.] ``Declaims his cause.'' --South.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(declaims, declaiming, declaimed) If you declaim, you speak dramatically, as if you were acting in a theatre. (WRITTEN) He raised his right fist and declaimed: 'Liar and cheat!'... He used to declaim French verse to us. VERB: V with quote, V n, also V, V that

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

v. n. 1. Harangue, speak (rhetorically), mouth, rant, spout (colloq.). 2. Recite a speech, practise speaking.

Moby Thesaurus

blare, blare forth, blaze, blaze abroad, blazon, blazon about, celebrate, chatter, converse, cry, cry out, debate, demagogue, elocute, gab, grimace, ham, ham it up, harangue, herald, herald abroad, hold forth, mouth, mug, orate, out-herod Herod, overact, overdramatize, patter, perorate, proclaim, promulgate, rabble-rouse, rant, rave, read, recite, roar, rodomontade, shout, soapbox, speak, spiel, spout, talk, throw away, thunder, thunder forth, trumpet, trumpet forth, tub-thump, underact, wag the tongue