Adjacent Words

Elocution definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

ELOCU'TION, n. [L. elocutio, from eloquor; e and loquor, to speak.]
1. Pronunciation; the utterance or delivery of words, particularly in public discourses and arguments. We say of elocution, it is good or bad; clear, fluent or melodious.
Elocution, which anciently embraced style and the whole art of rhetoric, now signifies manner of delivery.
2. In rhetoric, elocution consists of elegance, composition and dignity; and Dryden uses the word as nearly synonymous with eloquence, the act of expressing thoughts with elegance or beauty.
3. Speech; the power of speaking.
Whose taste--gave elocution to the mute.
4. In ancient treatises on oratory, the wording of a discourse; the choice and order of words; composition; the act of framing a writing or discourse.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: an expert manner of speaking involving control of voice and gesture

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English elocucioun, from Latin elocution-, elocutio, from eloqui Date: 15th century 1. a style of speaking especially in public 2. the art of effective public speaking • elocutionary adjective • elocutionist noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 the art of clear and expressive speech, esp. of distinct pronunciation and articulation. 2 a particular style of speaking. Derivatives: elocutionary adj. elocutionist n. Etymology: L elocutio f. eloqui elocut- speak out (as E-, loqui speak)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Elocution El`o*cu"tion, n. [L. elocutio, fr. eloqui, elocutus, to speak out: cf. F. ['e]locution. See Eloquent.] 1. Utterance by speech. [R.] [Fruit] whose taste . . . Gave elocution to the mute, and taught The tongue not made for speech to speak thy praise. --Milton. 2. Oratorical or expressive delivery, including the graces of intonation, gesture, etc.; style or manner of speaking or reading in public; as, clear, impressive elocution. ``The elocution of a reader.'' --Whately 3. Suitable and impressive writing or style; eloquent diction. [Obs.] To express these thoughts with elocution. --Dryden.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Elocution lessons are lessons in which someone is taught to speak clearly and in an accent that is considered to be standard and acceptable.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Speech, faculty of speech, power of expression. 2. Utterance, delivery, manner of speaking, oral expression. 3. Art of delivery, art of oral expression, reading art, declamatory art.

Moby Thesaurus

accents, chatter, comment, conversation, debating, declamation, demagogism, discourse, eloquence, forensics, gab, homiletics, language, lecturing, oral communication, oratory, palaver, parole, platform oratory, prattle, public speaking, pyrotechnics, rabble-rousing, rapping, rhetoric, speaking, speech, speechcraft, speechification, speeching, speechmaking, stump speaking, talk, talking, wordcraft, words, yakkety-yak, yakking