elocution

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: el=o=cu=tion

CIDE DICTIONARY

elocution, n. [L. elocutio, fr. eloqui, elocutus, to speak out: cf. F. élocution. See Eloquent.].

•  Utterance by speech.  [1913 Webster]

  "[Fruit] whose taste . . .
  Gave elocution to the mute, and taught
  The tongue not made for speech to speak thy praise."  [1913 Webster]
•  Oratorical or expressive delivery, including the graces of intonation, gesture, etc.; style or manner of speaking or reading in public; as, clear, impressive elocution.  Whately  [1913 Webster]
•  Suitable and impressive writing or style; eloquent diction.  [1913 Webster]

  "To express these thoughts with elocution."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

elocution, n.
1 the art of clear and expressive speech, esp. of distinct pronunciation and articulation.
2 a particular style of speaking.

Derivative

elocutionary adj. elocutionist n.

Etymology

L elocutio f. eloqui elocut- speak out (as E-, loqui speak)

THESAURUS

elocution

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

ROGET THESAURUS

elocution

Speech

N speech, faculty of speech, locution, talk, parlance, verbal intercourse, prolation, oral communication, word of mouth, parole, palaver, prattle, effusion, oration, recitation, delivery, say, speech, lecture, harangue, sermon, tirade, formal speech, peroration, speechifying, soliloquy, allocution, conversation, salutatory : screed: valedictory, oratory, elocution, eloquence, rhetoric, declamation, grandiloquence, multiloquence, burst of eloquence, facundity, flow of words, command of words, command of language, copia verborum, power of speech, gift of the gab, usus loquendi, speaker, spokesman, prolocutor, interlocutor, mouthpiece, Hermes, orator, oratrix, oratress, Demosthenes, Cicero, rhetorician, stump orator, platform orator, speechmaker, patterer, improvisatore, speaking, spoken, oral, lingual, phonetic, not written, unwritten, outspoken, eloquent, elocutionary, oratorical, rhetorical, declamatory, grandiloquent, talkative, Ciceronian, nuncupative, Tullian, orally, by word of mouth, viva voce, from the lips of, quoth he, said he, action is eloquence, pour the full tide of eloquence along, she speaks poignards and every word stabs, speech is but broken light upon the depth of the u, to try thy eloquence now 'tis time.