From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishoratoryor‧a‧tory /ˈɒrətri $ ˈɔːrətɔːri, ˈɑː-/ noun (plural oratories) 1 [uncountable]TALK/MAKE A SPEECH the skill of making powerful speeches2 [countable]RRCTBB a small building or part of a church where people can go to pray —oratorical /ˌɒrəˈtɒrɪkəl◂ $ ˌɔːrəˈtɔːr-, ˌɑːrəˈtɑː-/ adjective
Examples from the Corpus
oratory• Their debate on Labour's plight rages far above the brawling oratory in the conference hall.• Jeffrey Archer's tireless energy and folksy oratory were much in demand at constituency lunches and dinners.• In 1896, the owners suddenly relented and sold, and Bessett was able to build his oratory.• Reverend Sonny Lara is well-known for his oratory.• It was subsequently placed in the inner oratory where it was enshrined beneath an altar.• Patriot Patrick Henry liked to drop by to hear the recruiting sermons Davies preached, in order to learn oratory.• She, for one, had had her fill of oratory.• Small stone oratories - the Druze have no mosques - stand amid the fields.Origin oratory 1. (1500-1600) Latin oratoria, from orare; → ORATION2. (1300-1400) Late Latin oratorium, from Latin orare; → ORATION 