I. Exercise in oratorical delivery, exercise or practice in speaking, declamation (class.; “most freq. in Quint.): cum sit declamatio forensium actionum meditatio, etc.,” Quint. 4, 2, 29; cf. id. 2, 10, 4; 12 et saep.: “in quotidiana declamatione utilis, etc.,” Cic. Fam. 16, 21, 6; cf. id. Tusc. 1, 4, 7; 2, 11, 26.—
B. Meton. (abstr. pro concreto), a theme, subject for declamation, called also causa (v. h. v.), Quint. 1, 2, 13; 10, 2, 12; 10, 5, 14; cf. Sen. Contr. 1 praef.— Poet. also of a person who serves as a theme, Juv. 10, 167.—
II. In a bad sense, loud, eager talking, bawling (so several times in Cic.): “desinamus aliquando vulgari et pervagata declamatione contendere,” Cic. Planc. 19, 47: sequitur ut materiae abhorrenti a veritate, declamatio adhibeatur, Tac. Dial. 35: “non placet mihi inquisitio candidati, non declamatio potius quam persalutatio,” Cic. Mur. 21, 44.
