epideictic oratory
- noun
- /ˌɛpɪˈdaɪktɪk ˈɔːrətɔri/
- Literature
:
oratoria epideíctica
- Pericles' renowned funeral speech is often cited as a classic example of epideictic oratory.
Examples
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The president delivered an epideictic oratory at the memorial service.
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In ancient Athens, epideictic oratory was used both to praise heroes and to condemn traitors.
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Graduation ceremonies frequently feature epideictic oratory to honor the achievements of students.
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Many speakers use epideictic oratory during graduation ceremonies.
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Graduation ceremonies frequently feature epideictic oratory to honor the achievements of students.
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In ancient Athens, epideictic oratory was a common way to praise heroes and condemn traitors.
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Pericles' renowned funeral speech is a classic example of epideictic oratory used in commemorative contexts.
Synonyms
10
7.3
The skill of speaking in public in a formal, powerful way to move people
6
7.6
A formal speech given at a special event
How Ceremonial
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and transparently derived from 'epideictic' (ceremonial/display) combined with 'oratory' (formal public speaking): it denotes a ceremonial or praise/blame speech. This is a regular compositional noun phrase and would be understandable to a B1 learner who already knows both constituent words.
Etymology
Epideictic oratory comes from the Greek word epideictic, which means 'to show', and it named speeches that were public 'shows' to praise or blame people at ceremonies. That's why today it means a formal speech used to honor or criticize someone at events like funerals or graduations.