| 释义 |
orator|ˈɒrətə(r)|
Also 4–8 -our, 5 -ur(e.
[ME. a. AFr. oratour = OF. orateur (14th c. in Littré), ad. L. ōrātōr-em speaker, orator, beseecher, agent-n. from ōrāre: see orate.]
†1. One who pleads or argues in favour of a person or cause; an advocate, a spokesman; spec. a professional advocate. Obs.
c1374Chaucer Boeth. iv. pr. iv. 100 (Camb. MS.) Thise oratours or aduocats don al the contrarye for they enforcen hem to commoeue the Iuges to han pite of hem þat han suffred. 1382Wyclif Acts xxiv. 1 Terculle, sum oratour [gloss or fair speker, or avocat], whiche wenten to the presedent aȝeyns Poul. 1592Warner Alb. Eng. viii. xxxix. (1612) 193 Take you no Orators for them, but that they hang or starue. 1593Shakes. Lucr. 30 Beautie it selfe doth of it selfe perswade, The eies of men without an Orator. 1650Fuller Pisgah v. 202 But oh! remember the Oratour on thy right hand, Christ Jesus our Lord.
†2. One who offers a prayer or petition; a petitioner or suppliant. (Commonly used in subscribing a letter or petition to a superior.) Obs.
1433Rolls of Parlt. IV. 458/1 To the Kyng..sheweth..your devoute Oratours. 1449Robert, Prior of Bromholm in Paston Lett. I. 79 Writtin in hast,..Your Orator, Robt., P. of B. 1532Submiss. of Clergy to Hen. VIII (MS., P.R.O.), We your most humble subjectis dayly oratours and beadismen of your clergye of England [etc.]. 1535Coverdale Bible Ded., Youre graces humble subiecte and daylye oratour, Myles Couerdale. a1677Barrow Serm. (1687) I. x. 136 Devout oratours and humble solicitours at the Throne of grace. 1700P. Lorrain Let. 12 Oct. in Pepys' Corr. V. 395 Who with profound respect beg leave to subscribe myself..your Honour's most humble and most obedt Servt and daily Orator, Paul Lorrain. 1727in Quincy Hist. Harvard Univ. (1840) I. 565 Your Honors' most humble orators shall ever pray for the prosperity and happiness of this government.
†b. Law. The plaintiff or petitioner in a bill or information in Chancery. Obs.
1594West 2nd Pt. Symbol., Chancerie §77 But of his further malyce agaynst your said Orator, he doth threaten your Orator in such sort, that your Orator for want of the said Evidences,..dareth not make his just and lawfull entrie. 1623Bill of Complaint in N. Shaks. Soc. Trans. (1885) 495 Humbly complayning, Sheweth vnto your good Lordshipp, your dayly oratours Ellis Worth, of London, gentleman, John Cumber, of the same, gentleman, and John Blany, of London aforesaid. 1768Blackstone Comm. III. xxvii. 442 The first commencement of a suit in chancery is by preferring a bill to the lord chancellor, in the stile of a petition; ‘humbly complaining sheweth to your lordship your orator A. B. that, &c.’
3. One who delivers a speech or oration in public; a public speaker, esp. one distinguished for oratorical ability; an eloquent public speaker.
c1430Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 87 In Rome, by soverayne excellence, Of rethoriques Tullius fonde the floures, Plee and defence of sotyl oratours. 1555Eden Decades 92 Vsinge also thoffice both of an oratoure and preacher. 1601Shakes. Jul. C. iii. ii. 221, I come not (Friends) to steale away your hearts, I am no Orator, as Brutus is. 1667Milton P.L. ix. 670 As when of old som Orator renound In Athens or free Rome,..to some great cause addresst, Stood in himself collected. 1752Hume Ess. & Treat. (1777) I. 105 The vehemence of action, observed in the ancient orators. a1862Buckle Misc. Wks. (1872) I. 254 The vulgar are always unwilling to believe that a great orator can be a profound thinker.
†b. An eloquent writer. Obs. rare.
1587MS. Robert Leng (Brit. Mus.), Whereas yt hath bene th'order of all antiant orators..to regester..in cronicle all such worthye persons..as..have deserved perpetuall remembraunce.
†4. One sent to plead or speak for another; an ambassador, envoy, or messenger. Obs.
1494Fabyan Chron. v. cxxxii. 115 The sayd Sclauons hauyng knowlege of y⊇ kynges great hoost, aggreed, by oratours to hym sent, to contynue the trybute that they before tyme payde. 1502Arnolde Chron. (1811) 162 Whan my noble prince the Soudan of Babilone had decerned to sende me his oratour to Fraunce. 1600Holland Livy xxviii. xvii. 680 Scipio..sent C. Lælius with rich gifts and presents, as an Orator to treat with him. 1673Ray Journ. Low C., Venice 174 Audience is given to publick Oratours and Embassadours.
fig.1592S. Daniel Compl. Rosamond liii, He daily Messages doth send, With costly Jewels (Orators of Love).
5. Public Orator: an officer of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, whose functions are to speak in the name of the University on state occasions; to go in person, when required, to plead the cause of the University; to write suitable addresses, letters of congratulation or condolence; to introduce candidates for certain honorary degrees, and to perform other duties of a like kind.
‘Orators’ were in early times sent by the universities, as special envoys, when occasion required, e.g. to Councils of the Church, as that of Basel in 1430. A permanent Public Orator was appointed at Cambridge in 1522, and at Oxford in 1564.
1614J. Chamberlain in Crt. & Times Jas. I (1848) I. 305 The University Orator, Nethersole..is taxed for calling the prince Jacobissime Carole. 1622J. Meade in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. III. 126, I shall not tell you..how our Orators fathered the foundation of our University [Cambridge] upon the Spanyards out of the old Legend of Cantaber. 1642Wood Life 29 Oct. (O.H.S.) I. 68 Dr. Gardiner prebend of Christchurch makinge a speech to his majestie, as Dr. Strode the orator's deputy. 1645Ibid. Mar. 116 William Strode..public orator of the University, died, M., 10 Mar. anno 1644/5. a1734North Lives (1826) I. 168 Dr. Henry Paman, sometime orator of the university of Cambridge. 1899Oxford Univ. Cal. 1 Public Orator. 1880 William Walter Merry, D.D. Rector of Lincoln.
6. Comb., as ˈorator-like a. and adv., like or after the manner of an orator.
1553T. Wilson Rhet. 13 It were wel done and Oratour-like. 1579G. Harvey Letter-bk. (Camden) 63 The Commendation of an eloquente and oratorlike stile. 1647Trapp Comm. 2 Thess. iii. 4 Here the Apostle, Oratour-like, entereth their bosoms. 1673O. Walker Educ. 161 What is well, and Orator-like written or spoken. |