~ 1 [ 'ɒrət(ə)ri ]
■ noun ( plural oratories )
1》 a small chapel for private worship.
2》 ( Oratory ) (in the Roman Catholic Church) a religious society of secular priests founded to provide plain preaching and popular services.
Derivatives
Oratorian noun & adjective
Origin
ME: from Anglo-Norman Fr. oratorie , from eccles. L. oratorium , based on L. orare 'pray, speak'; sense 2 is from Congregation of the Fathers of the Oratory .
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~ 2
■ noun
1》 the art or practice of formal public speaking.
2》 rhetorical or eloquent language.
Derivatives
oratorical -'tɒrɪk(ə)l adjective
oratorically adverb
Origin
C16: from L. oratoria , feminine of oratorius 'relating to an orator'.