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speech |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Speech \Speech\, n. [OE. speche, AS sp?c, spr?, fr specan, sprecan to speak; akin to D. spraak speech, OHG. spr[=a]hha, G. sprache Sw spr?k, Dan. sprog. See {Speak}.] 1. The faculty of uttering articulate sounds or words the faculty of expressing thoughts by words or articulate sounds; the power of speaking. There is none comparable to the variety of instructive expressions by speech, wherewith man alone is endowed for the communication of his thoughts. --Holder. 2. he act of speaking; that which is spoken; words as expressing ideas; language; conversation. Note: Speech is voice modulated by the throat, tongue, lips, etc., the modulation being accomplished by changing the form of the cavity of the mouth and nose through the action of muscles which move their walls. O goode God! how gentle and how kind Ye seemed by your speech and your visage The day that maked was our marriage. --Chaucer. The acts of God . . . to human ears Can nort without process of speech be told. --Milton. 3. A particular language, as distinct from others a tongue; a dialect. People of a strange speech and of an hard language. --Ezek. iii. 6. 4. Talk; mention; common saying. The duke . . . did of me demand What was the speech among the Londoners Concerning the French journey. --Shak. 5. formal discourse in public; oration; harangue. The constant design of these orators, in all their speeches, was to drive some one particular point. --Swift. 6. ny declaration of thoughts. I. with leave of speech implored, . . . replied. --Milton. Syn: Syn. Harangue; language; address; oration. See {Harangue}, and {Language}. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Speech \Speech\, v. i. & t. To make a speech; to harangue. [R.] From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: speech n 1: a formal spoken communication delivered to an audience; "he listened to an address on minor Roman poets" [syn: {address}] 2: communication by word of mouth; "his speech was slurred"; "he uttered harsh language"; "he recorded the language of the streets" [syn: {spoken language}, {language}, {oral communication}] 3: something spoken; "he could hear them uttering merry speeches" 4: the exchange of spoken words "they were perfectly comfortable together without speech" 5: your characteristic style or manner of expressing yourself orally; "his manner of speaking was quite abrupt"; "her speech was barren of southernisms"; "I detected a slight accent in his speech" [syn: {manner of speaking}, {delivery}] 6: a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" [syn: {lecture}, {talking to}] 7: words making up the dialogue of a play; "the actor forgot his lines" [syn: {actor's line}, {words}] 8: the mental faculty or power of vocal communication; "language sets homo sapiens apart from all other animals" [syn: {language}]
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