Adjacent Words

Sermon definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SER'MON, n.
1. A discourse delivered in public by a licensed clergymen for the purpose of religious instruction, and usually grounded on some text or passage of Scripture. Sermons are extemporary addresses or written discourses.
His preaching much, but more his practice wrought,
A living sermon of the truths he taught. Dryden.
2. A printed discourse.
SER'MON, v. t.
1. To discourse as in a sermon. [Little used.]
2. To tutor; to lesson; to teach. [Little used.]
SER'MON, v. i. To compose or deliver a sermon. [Little used.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service) [syn: sermon, discourse, preaching]
2: a moralistic rebuke; "your preaching is wasted on him" [syn: sermon, preaching]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French sermun, from Medieval Latin sermon-, sermo, from Latin, speech, conversation, from serere to link together — more at series Date: 13th century 1. a religious discourse delivered in public usually by a clergyman as a part of a worship service 2. a speech on conduct or duty • sermonic adjective

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a spoken or written discourse on a religious or moral subject, esp. a discourse based on a text or passage of Scripture and delivered in a service by way of religious instruction or exhortation. 2 a piece of admonition or reproof, a lecture. 3 a moral reflection suggested by natural objects etc. (sermons in stones). Phrases and idioms: Sermon on the Mount the discourse of Christ recorded in Matt. 5-7. Etymology: ME f. AF sermun, OF sermon f. L sermo -onis discourse, talk

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Sermon Ser"mon, n. [OE. sermoun, sermun, F. sermon, fr. L. sermo, -onis, a speaking, discourse, probably fr. serer, sertum, to join, connect; hence, a connected speech. See Series.] 1. A discourse or address; a talk; a writing; as, the sermons of Chaucer. [Obs.] --Chaucer. 2. Specifically, a discourse delivered in public, usually by a clergyman, for the purpose of religious instruction and grounded on some text or passage of Scripture. This our life exempt from public haunts Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones and good in everything. --Shak. His preaching much, but more his practice, wrought, A living sermon of the truths he taught. --Dryden. 3. Hence, a serious address; a lecture on one's conduct or duty; an exhortation or reproof; a homily; -- often in a depreciatory sense.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Sermon Ser"mon, v. i. [Cf. OF. sermoner, F. sermonner to lecture one.] To speak; to discourse; to compose or deliver a sermon. [Obs.] --Holinshed. What needeth it to sermon of it more? --Chaucer.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Sermon Ser"mon, v. t. 1. To discourse to or of, as in a sermon. [Obs.] --Spenser. 2. To tutor; to lecture. [Poetic] --Shak.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(sermons) A sermon is a talk on a religious or moral subject that is given by a member of the clergy as part of a church service. N-COUNT

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Homily, exhortation, religious discourse.

Moby Thesaurus

address, admonishment, admonition, assignment, castigation, chalk talk, chastisement, chiding, correction, discourse, disquisition, dressing-down, exercise, exhortation, exposition, harangue, homework, homily, instruction, lecture, lecture-demonstration, lesson, moral, moral lesson, morality, moralization, object lesson, objurgation, preach, preachification, preaching, preachment, prelection, rating, rebuke, recital, recitation, religious discourse, remonstrance, remonstration, reprehension, reprimand, reproach, reprobation, reproof, reproval, scolding, sermonette, sermonizing, set task, skull session, spanking, speech, talk, talking-to, task, teaching, tirade, travelogue, upbraiding