ORATORY

I. noun (plural -ries) Etymology: Middle English oratorie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin oratorium, from Latin orare Date: 14th century a place of prayer, an Oratorian congregation, house, or church, II. noun Etymology: Latin oratoria, from feminine of oratorius oratorical, from orare Date: 1594 the art of speaking in public eloquently or effectively, 2. public speaking that employs ~, public speaking that is characterized by the use of stock phrases and that appeals chiefly to the emotions