01 n. The faculty of uttering articulate sounds or words; the faculty of expressing thoughts by words or articulate sounds; the power of speaking.
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1.
The faculty of uttering articulate sounds or words; the faculty of expressing thoughts by words or articulate sounds; the power of speaking.“There is none comparable to the variety of instructive expressions by speech, wherewith man alone is endowed for the communication of his thoughts.” — Holder.
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2.
he act of speaking; that which is spoken; words, as expressing ideas; language; conversation.“O goode God! how gentle and how kind Ye seemed by your speech and your visage The day that maked was our marriage.” — Chaucer.“The acts of God . . . to human ears Can nort without process of speech be told.” — Milton.
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3.
A particular language, as distinct from others; a tongue; a dialect.“People of a strange speech and of an hard language.” — Ezek. iii. 6.
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4.
Talk; mention; common saying.“The duke . . . did of me demand What was the speech among the Londoners Concerning the French journey.” — Shak.
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5.
formal discourse in public; oration; harangue.“The constant design of these orators, in all their speeches, was to drive some one particular point.” — Swift.
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6.
ny declaration of thoughts.“I. with leave of speech implored, . . . replied.” — Milton.