/dek'leuh may"sheuhn/ , n.
1. the act or art of declaiming.
2. exercise in oratory or elocution, as in the recitation of a classic speech.
3. speech or writing for oratorical effect.
4. Music. the proper enunciation of the words, as in recitative.
[ 1350-1400; declamation- (s. of declamatio ), equiv. to declamat ( us ) (ptp. of declamare to DECLAIM; see -ATE 1 ) + -ion- -ION ]