orator

[ awr-uh-ter, or- ]

noun

1. a person who delivers an oration; a public speaker, especially one of great eloquence:

   Demosthenes was one of the great orators of ancient Greece.

2. Law. a plaintiff in a case in a court of equity.

orator

/ ˈɒrətə /

noun

1. a public speaker, esp one versed in rhetoric
2. a person given to lengthy or pompous speeches
3. obsolete.
   the claimant in a cause of action in chancery

Other Words From

• ora·tor·like adjective
• ora·tor·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of orator¹

1325–75; < Latin ōrātor speaker, suppliant, equivalent to ōrā ( re ) ( oration ) + -tor -tor; replacing Middle English oratour < Anglo-French < Latin, as above

Example Sentences

His friends describe him as a charismatic orator, who spoke softly and possessed wells of energy for the issues he cared about most.

From Salon

She is not an eloquent orator - and does not seem to have much of a plan to improve our country.

From BBC

Harris has an enormous resume, with skills as an attorney, an orator and a policymaker.

From Salon

Hezbollah played on the popularity of Nasrallah, a skilled orator who spoke with a lisp and would crack the occasional joke and use slang.

From Los Angeles Times

“The dangers you pose are in your organisational skills and skills as an orator, I cannot at present foresee a time when you will cease to be dangerous.”

From BBC

Related Words

• lecturer
• preacher
• public speaker