I. ȯˈrāshən, əˈr- noun
( -s )
Etymology: in sense 1, from Middle English oracione, from Late Latin oration-, oratio, from Latin, speech, language, style, harangue, oration, from oratus (past participle of orare to recite a ritual, plead, pray, speak) + -ion-, -io -ion; in other senses, from Latin oration-, oratio; akin to Greek ara, arē prayer, Russian orat' to yell, cry, and perhaps to Sanskrit āryati he acknowledges, praises; basic meaning: to speak, call
1. archaic : petition , prayer
the bells tolled the hour of oration — Washington Irving
2. : an elaborate discourse delivered in public and treating an important subject in a formal and dignified manner ; especially : a formal discourse on some special occasion (as a funeral or an anniversary)
3. dialect England : clamor , uproar
II. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to deliver an oration