declamation

Also found in: Thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

dec·la·ma·tion

(dĕk′lə-mā′shən)

1. A recitation delivered as an exercise in rhetoric or elocution.

a. Vehement oratory.

b. A speech marked by strong feeling; a tirade.

[Middle English declamacioun, from Latin dēclāmātiō, dēclāmātiōn-, from dēclāmātus, past participle of dēclāmāre, to declaim; see declaim.]

declamation

(ˌdɛkləˈmeɪʃən)

1. (Rhetoric) a rhetorical or emotional speech, made esp in order to protest or condemn; tirade

2. (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) a speech, verse, etc, that is or can be spoken

3. (Rhetoric) the act or art of declaiming

4. (Classical Music) music the artistry or technique involved in singing recitative passages

dec•la•ma•tion

(ˌdɛk ləˈmeɪ ʃən)

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.

[1350–1400; < Latin]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun	1.	declamation - vehement oratory philippic, tirade, broadside - a speech of violent denunciation oratory - addressing an audience formally (usually a long and rhetorical address and often pompous); "he loved the sound of his own oratory" harangue, rant, ranting - a loud bombastic declamation expressed with strong emotion raving - declaiming wildly; "the raving of maniacs"
	2.	declamation - recitation of a speech from memory with studied gestures and intonation as an exercise in elocution or rhetoric recitation, recital, reading - a public instance of reciting or repeating (from memory) something prepared in advance; "the program included songs and recitations of well-loved poems"

declamation

noun speech, address, lecture, rant, tirade, harangue, oration, recitation Her warnings and declamations went unheeded.

declamation

noun

1. A usually formal oral communication to an audience:

address, allocution, lecture, oration, prelection, speech, talk.

2. The art of public speaking:

elocution, oratory, rhetoric.

Translations

Deklamation

declamazione

declamation

[ˌdekləˈmeɪʃən] N → declamación f

declamation

n → Deklamation f; (against sth) → Tirade f

declamation

[ˌdɛkləˈmeɪʃ/ən] n → declamazione f

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

They consisted of an elaborate scenic background set up near the city gate or on the street, with figures from allegorical or traditional history who engaged in some pantomime or declamation, but with very little dramatic dialog, or none.

View in context

It was a place to quote Alastor in, and nothing but a bad memory prevented my affrighting the oaks and rills with declamation. As it was, I could only recall the lines

View in context

His mouth was now as effectually stopt, as that of quack must be, if, in the midst of a declamation on the great virtues of his pills and powders, the corpse of one of his martyrs should be brought forth, and deposited before the stage, as a testimony of his skill.

View in context

The eloquent Pickwick, with one hand gracefully concealed behind his coat tails, and the other waving in air to assist his glowing declamation; his elevated position revealing those tights and gaiters, which, had they clothed an ordinary man, might have passed without observation, but which, when Pickwick clothed them--if we may use the expression--inspired involuntary awe and respect; surrounded by the men who had volunteered to share the perils of his travels, and who were destined to participate in the glories of his discoveries.

View in context

"When Johnson writes tragedy," said Garrick, "'declamation roars and passion sleeps':* when Shakespeare wrote, he dipped the pen in his own heart." Garrick did what he could with the play, but it was a failure, and although Johnson continued to believe that it was good, he wrote no more tragedies.

View in context

Wopsle said grace with theatrical declamation - as it now appears to me, something like a religious cross of the Ghost in Hamlet with Richard the Third - and ended with the very proper aspiration that we might be truly grateful.

View in context

Admitting that he might be wrong, a frenzied declamation of the kind would turn him into a worm.

View in context

There was a vast deal of solemn deliberation, and hard Scottish reasoning, with an occasional swell of pompous declamation.

View in context

Graham,' said I, suddenly stopping short, checked in my passionate declamation by unutterable feelings to behold her actually smiling at the picture of the ruin she had wrought.

View in context

I saw he suspected I was going to take some very rash step; but repressing declamation or remonstrance, he only answered--

View in context

If the governor took any notice of me, and cared how I got on, I would n't mind the presents so much; but he don't care a hang, and never even asked if I did well last declamation day, when I 'd gone and learned 'The Battle of Lake Regillus,' because he said he liked it."

View in context

How long Mr Squeers might have declaimed, or how stormy a discussion his declamation might have led to, nobody knows.