Speech

Speech
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. [1913 Webster]

There is none comparable to the variety of instructive expressions by speech, wherewith man alone is endowed for the communication of his thoughts. --Holder. [1913 Webster]

2. he act of speaking; that which is spoken; words, as expressing ideas; language; conversation. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

O goode God! how gentle and how kind Ye seemed by your speech and your visage The day that maked was our marriage. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

The acts of God . . . to human ears Can nort without process of speech be told. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

3. A particular language, as distinct from others; a tongue; a dialect. [1913 Webster]

People of a strange speech and of an hard language. --Ezek. iii. 6. [1913 Webster]

4. Talk; mention; common saying. [1913 Webster]

The duke . . . did of me demand What was the speech among the Londoners Concerning the French journey. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

5. formal discourse in public; oration; harangue. [1913 Webster]

The constant design of these orators, in all their speeches, was to drive some one particular point. --Swift. [1913 Webster]

6. ny declaration of thoughts. [1913 Webster]

I. with leave of speech implored, . . . replied. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Syn. Harangue; language; address; oration. See {Harangue}, and {Language}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • speech — /speech/, n. 1. the faculty or power of speaking; oral communication; ability to express one s thoughts and emotions by speech sounds and gesture: Losing her speech made her feel isolated from humanity. 2. the act of speaking: He expresses… …   Universalium

  • Speech — refers to the processes associated with the production and perception of sounds used in spoken language. A number of academic disciplines study speech and speech sounds, including acoustics, psychology, speech pathology, linguistics, cognitive… …   Wikipedia

  • speech — [ spitʃ ] n. m. • 1829; mot angl. ♦ Vieilli Petite allocution de circonstance, notamment en réponse à un toast. ⇒ discours; fam. laïus, topo. Il y eut quelques speechs (ou speeches) amusants. « en mourant, tous les hommes célèbres font un dernier …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • speech — W2S2 [spi:tʃ] n [: Old English; Origin: sprAc, spAc] 1.) a talk, especially a formal one about a particular subject, given to a group of people ▪ a campaign speech give/make/deliver a speech ▪ Each child had to give a short speech to the rest of… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • speech — [ spitʃ ] noun *** 1. ) count a formal occasion when someone speaks to an audience: He began his speech by outlining his plans for the coming year. make/give/deliver a speech: The queen made a wonderful speech in reply. a ) the words that someone …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • speech — speech; speech·ful; speech·ifi·ca·tion; speech·ifi·er; speech·ify; speech·less; speech·less·ly; speech·less·ness; speech·ful·ness; …   English syllables

  • speech — [spēch] n. [ME speche < OE spæc, spræc < base of sprecan, to speak: see SPEAK] 1. the act of speaking; expression or communication of thoughts and feelings by spoken words 2. the power or ability to speak 3. the manner of speaking [her… …   English World dictionary

  • speech — n: words or conduct used to communicate or express a thought: expression see also commercial speech, freedom of speech, free speech …   Law dictionary

  • speech — 1 *language, tongue, dialect, idiom 2 Speech, address, oration, harangue, lecture, talk, sermon, homily designate a discourse delivered to an audience. Speech can apply to a public discourse irrespective of its quality or its degree of… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Speech — 〈[ spi:tʃ] f.; , es〉 Rede, Ansprache [engl., „Sprache, Rede“; zu speak „sprechen“] * * * Speech [spi:t̮ʃ], der; es, e u. es u. die; , e u. es […ɪs] [engl. speech] (selten): Rede, Ansprache: einen kleinen/eine kleine S. halten. * * * Speech… …   Universal-Lexikon

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