previous next
ōrātĭo , ōnis, f. oro,
I.a speaking, speech, discourse, language
I. In gen., the connection of words to express thought: “non est autem in verbo modus hic, sed in oratione, id est, in continuatione verborum,Cic. 3, 42, 167.
1. Speech, the power or faculty of speech, the habit or use of language: “quae (ferae) sunt rationis et orationis expertes,Cic. Off. 1, 16, 50: “natura vi rationis hominem conciliat homini et ad orationis et ad vitae societatem,id. ib. 1, 4, 12.—
3. Hence, a mode of speaking; a kind, manner, style of speech; language: “quin tu istanc orationem hinc veterem atque antiquam amoves. Nam proletario sermone nunc utere,Plaut. Mil. 3, 1, 155: nam opulenti cum loquuntur pariter atque ignobiles, eadem dicta eademque oratio aequa non aeque valet, Enn. ap. Gell. 11, 4, 3: quam tibi ex ore orationem duriter dictis dedit, id. ap. Non. p. 512, 8: “aliam nunc mihi orationem despoliato praedicas,Plaut. As. 1, 3, 52: Creta est profecto horum hominum oratio, quam orationem hanc aures dulce devorant, id. Poen. 5, 2, 9: “(Andria et Perinthia) non ita sunt dissimili argumento, sed tamen Dissimili oratione,Ter. And. prol. 11.—Esp. (in gram.): oratio obliqua, indirect speech, the use of dependent clauses in citing the language of others: “quam (orationem) obliquam Pompeius Trogus exposuit (opp. to conciones directae),Just. 38, 3, 11.—Hence,
B. A set speech, harangue, discourse, oration: “(oratio) ut gravis, ut suavis, ut erudita sit, ut liberalis, ut polita, ut sensus, ut doloris habeat quantum opus sit, non est singulorum articulorum: in toto spectantur haec corpore, etc.,Cic. de Or. 3, 25, 96; cf. “the context: illam orationem disertam sibi et oratoriam videri, fortem et virilem non videri,id. ib. 1, 54, 231: “hanc habere orationem mecum principio institit,Ter. Hec. 3, 3, 21: “pleraeque scribuntur orationes habitae jam, non ut habeantur,Cic. Brut. 24, 91: “non est haec oratio habenda apud imperitam multitudinem,id. Mur. 29, 61: “ignarus faciundae ac poliendae orationis,id. de Or. 1, 14, 63: “in orationibus hisce ipsis judiciorum, contionum, senatus,id. ib. 1, 16, 73: “quanta illa, di immortales, fuit gravitas, quanta in oratione majestas! sed adfuistis, et est in manibus oratio,id. Lael. 25, 96: “qui orationem adversus rem publicam habuissent, eorum bona in publicum adducebat,Caes. B. C. 2, 18, 5: “ab adulescentiā confecit orationes,Nep. Cat. 3, 3: “Catonis aliae acerbae orationes extant, etc.,Liv. 39, 42, 6: “oratio plebi acceptior,id. 3, 69: “accurata et polita,Cic. Brut. 95, 326: “longa,Liv. 34, 5: “acris et vehemens,Quint. 5, 13, 25: “admirabilis,Cic. de Or. 3, 25, 94: “angusta et concisa, opp. collata et diffusa,id. Or. 56, 187: “aspera, tristis, horrida, neque perfecta neque conclusa, opp. laevis et structa et terminata,id. ib. 5, 20: “circumcisa et brevis,Plin. Ep. 1, 20, 4: “rotunda et undique circumcisa,Quint. 8, 5, 27: “cohaerens,Cic. de Or. 3, 44, 173: “concinna,id. ib. 3, 25, 98: “stabilis, opp. volubilis,id. Or. 56, 187.—
III. Transf.
B. Prose (opp. to poetry): “et in poëmatis et in oratione,Cic. Or. 21, 70.—
C. (In gram.) A sentence, a clause expressing a complete sense: “oratio est ordinatio dictionum congrua sententiam perfectam demonstrans,Prisc. 2, 4, 15: “oratio dicitur liber rhetoricus, necnon unaquaeque dictio hoc saepe nomine nuncupatur cum plenam ostendit sententiam,id. ib.: defectio litterae, et syllabae, et dictionis, et orationis, id. 17, 1, 5.—
E. A prayer, an address to the Deity (eccl. Lat.): “respice ad orationem servi tui,Vulg. 3 Reg. 8, 28: “per orationes Dominum rogantes,id. 2 Macc. 10, 16: “pernoctans in oratione Dei,id. Luc. 6, 12.—Also absol., prayer, the habit or practice of prayer: “perseverantes in oratione,Vulg. Act. 1, 14: “orationi instate,id. Col. 4, 2; cf. Gell. 13, 22, 1.
hide Dictionary Entry Lookup
Use this tool to search for dictionary entries in all lexica.
Search for in
hide References (40 total)
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (40):
    • Cicero, For Lucius Murena, 29.61
    • Plautus, Epidicus, 1.2
    • Plautus, Poenulus, 5.2
    • Old Testament, 1 Kings, 8.28
    • Old Testament, 2 Maccabees, 10.16
    • New Testament, Acts, 1.14
    • New Testament, Luke, 6.12
    • Suetonius, Divus Augustus, 65
    • Suetonius, Divus Titus, 6
    • Caesar, Civil War, 2.18.5
    • Tacitus, Annales, 16.27
    • Plautus, Asinaria, 1.3
    • Plautus, Miles Gloriosus, 3.1
    • Cicero, On Oratory, 1.14
    • Cicero, On Oratory, 2.44
    • Cicero, On Oratory, 3.25
    • Cicero, On Oratory, 3.44
    • Suetonius, Nero, 15
    • Cornelius Nepos, Cato, 3.3
    • Pliny the Younger, Epistulae, 1.20.4
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 39, 42
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 34, 5
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 3, 69
    • Cicero, de Natura Deorum, 1.44
    • Cicero, De Amicitia, 25
    • Cicero, Tusculanae Disputationes, 5.16
    • Cicero, De Officiis, 1.1
    • Cicero, De Officiis, 1.37
    • Cicero, De Officiis, 1.16
    • Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, Book 5, 13.25
    • Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, Book 8, 5.27
    • Gellius, Noctes Atticae, 11.1.1
    • Gellius, Noctes Atticae, 11.4.3
    • Gellius, Noctes Atticae, 1.15.1
    • Gellius, Noctes Atticae, 13.22.1
    • Cicero, Brutus, 31.120
    • Cicero, Brutus, 95.326
    • Cicero, Orator, 19.64
    • Cicero, Orator, 21.70
    • Cicero, Orator, 56.187
hide Display Preferences
Greek Display:
Arabic Display:
View by Default:
Browse Bar: