declaim

Etymology

From Middle French declamer, from Latin dēclāmō.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /dɪˈkleɪm/

Verb

declaim (third-person singular simple present declaims, present participle declaiming, simple past and past participle declaimed)

1. To object to something vociferously; to rail against in speech.
2. To recite, e.g., poetry, in a theatrical way; to speak for rhetorical display; to speak pompously, noisily, or theatrically; bemouth; to make an empty speech; to rehearse trite arguments in debate; to rant.
   • Bancroft

     Grenville seized the opportunity to declaim on the repeal of the stamp act.

3. To speak rhetorically; to make a formal speech or oration; specifically, to recite a speech, poem, etc., in public as a rhetorical exercise; to practice public speaking.

   The students declaim twice a week.

Anagrams

• camelid, claimed, decimal, medical