Orator Meaning
/ˈɒ.ɹə.tə(ɹ)/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounSomeone who orates or delivers an oration.
nounA skilled and eloquent public speaker.
Sentence Examples
Listening to the orator's incoherent ramblings was excruciating.
An orator is made, but a poet is born.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The skilled ____ delivered a moving speech that held everyone's attention.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The famous ____ captivated the crowd with his passionate speech about justice and equality.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English oratour, from Anglo-Norman oratour, from Latin ōrātor.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Tam[burlaine]. Then ſhall we fight couragiouſlye with them?
Or looke you, I ſhould play the Orator?
Tech[elles]. No: cowards and faint-hearted runawaies,
Looke for orations when the foe is neere.
Our ſwordes shall play the Orators for vs."
— c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii:
"[…] when it becomes obvious that I have not the slightest skill as a speaker – unless, of course, by skilful speaker they mean one who speaks the truth. If that is what they mean, I would agree that I am an orator, though not after their pattern."
— 1954, Plato, translated by Hugh Tredennick, “Socrates on Trial: The Apology”, in The Last Days of Socrates (Penguin Classics), Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin Books, →OCLC, page 19:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The skilled ____ delivered a moving speech that held everyone's attention.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The famous ____ captivated the crowd with his passionate speech about justice and equality.