Oratory

//ˈɔ.ɹəˌtɔ.ɹi// name, noun

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    The Oratory of Saint Philip Neri, a society of priests and lay brothers founded in 1575.
Noun
  1. 1
    A private chapel or prayer room.

    "I will retire to my oratory, and pray to the blessed Virgin to inspire you with her holy counsels […]."

  2. 2
    The art of public speaking, especially in a formal, expressive, or forceful manner. uncountable
  3. 3
    Alternative letter-case form of oratory: a church belonging to the Oratory. alt-of
  4. 4
    addressing an audience formally (usually a long and rhetorical address and often pompous) wordnet
  5. 5
    A Roman Catholic chapel; a building for public or private worship that is not a parish church.

    "By public oratories are meant those attached to monasteries, convents, seminaries, etc., having a public entrance by which the faithful have access to them."

Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    Eloquence; the quality of artistry and persuasiveness in speech or writing. uncountable

    "Rising from humble farmhand to community organizer to a leader of the national Fatah party, Mr. Barghouti became known for his soaring oratory and common touch."

  2. 7
    A Catholic church belonging to the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri. specifically

    "They had been given the old Oscott College premises as a temporary home, but were content there until Oratories could be established in the cities. St Philip Neri had specifically intended that the Oratory should be a city-based form of communal and missionary life."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English oratorie, from Anglo-Norman oratorie, Middle French oratoire, and their source, Late Latin ōrātōrium. Doublet of oratorio.

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Latin ōrātōria, from the feminine of ōrātōrius (“oratorial”).

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