v.
Pronunciation: di- ' kl ā m, d ē -
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English declamen, from Latin declamare, from de- + clamare to cry out; akin to Latin calare to call ― more at LOW
Date: 14th century
intransitive verb
1 : to speak rhetorically specifically : to recite something as an exercise in elocution
2 : to speak pompously or bombastically : HARANGUE
transitive verb : to deliver rhetorically <an actor declaim ing his lines> specifically : to recite in elocution
– de · claim · er noun
– dec · la · ma · tion \ ˌ de-kl ə - ' m ā -sh ə n \ noun