I. ˈspēch noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English speche, from Old English spǣc, spēc, sprǣc, sprēc; akin to Old High German sprāhha speech, Old English sprecan, specan to speak — more at speak
1.
a. : the act of speaking : communication or expression of thoughts in spoken words
speech is a means of producing in our hearers the images which are in us — Bertrand Russell
b. : interchange of spoken words : conversation , talk
wayfarers, after a first greeting, frequently plod on for miles without speech — Thomas Hardy
wanted to have speech with him and could not — Arnold Bennett
c. : the sounding or speaking of a musical instrument
d. : a form or method of expression or communication
so profound and poignant is his musical speech that there is no other eloquence like it — A.T.Davison
if another ship ever broke into speech with flags or lamp, most ships' officers of that time panicked — Gavin Douglas
2.
a. : something that is spoken : an uttered word : statement
this was nearer a complaint than any speech she had ever heard from him — Ellen Glasgow
b. : a usually formal discourse delivered before or to an audience
will make a speech to the nation on television
the queen read her speech from the throne
an impromptu speech
c. : a line or group of lines spoken at one time by a character in a play
one of the most moving speeches in the play
a dramatist with a fondness for writing long speeches
3.
a. : a form of spoken communication or expression developed by a particular group of people (as of a nation, region, or class) : a language, dialect, or idiom
had to begin by studying their speech and creating a written language — American Guide Series: Minnesota
wrote several treatises in his native speech — William Grant
Midland speech
b. : a manner, style, or pattern of speaking characteristic of a particular individual : a distinctive phonetic quality
his speech is slipshod and unclear
his speech is a peculiar blend of New England and the South
4.
a. : the faculty of uttering articulate sounds or words : the faculty of expressing thoughts by words or articulate sounds : the power of speaking
we stood for some moments, silent and trembling … at length I found my speech — W.H.Hudson †1922
b. : the art or technique of clear and effective speaking : elocution , public speaking
speech is one of the oldest subjects of study in organized instruction — F.H.Knower
5. archaic : common report : mention , talk
what was the speech among the Londoners concerning the French journey — Shakespeare
Synonyms: see language
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
intransitive verb
: to make a speech
transitive verb
: to speak or make a speech to