Etymologically
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oratio

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 15:23. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [oːˈraː.ti.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [oˈrat.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

ōrātiō f (genitive ōrātiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from ōrō “to speak, plead, pray” with the suffix -tiō.[2][1][3] Isidore explains it as ⟨ōris ratiō⟩ “the reason of the mouth”.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of speech and of a formal address.[2] Köbler's first source is Naevius, whom he dates c. 235–200 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant speaking, the power of speech, as in Plautus, and in Pacuvius the language of a group, a dialect.[2] In Cicero it meant literary style, and in Quintilian pars ōrātiōnis a part of speech.[2] In Ennius it meant what one says, one's words, and in Cicero a statement and a discourse or treatise.[2] From Plautus it meant a formal speech, an oration, and in Pacuvius oratory.[2] Isidore defines it as words joined together with sense.[4]

In Christian Latin it meant a prayer, and specifically the collect of the Mass, and Isidore says ōrātiō is petition.[6][4] Ecclesiastical Latin uses it for prayer, supplication, oration, discourse, and ōrātiō dominica was the Lord's Prayer.[7][5] Through Old French oreison it gave English orison “a prayer” about 1200, and Late Latin ōrātiō gave English oration in the late 14th century, first also meaning “a prayer”.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.[5]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of speech and of a formal address.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of style and discourse.[2][5]
  • c. 1200 – English orison is recorded.[3]
  • late 14th century – English oration is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Speech; the power of speech.[2]
  2. A language, dialect.[2]
  3. Style, pars ōrātiōnis, a part of speech.[2]
  4. One's words; a statement.[2]
  5. A discourse, treatise.[2]
  6. A formal speech, oration; oratory.[2]
  7. (Ecclesiastical Latin) A prayer; the collect of the Mass.[6][7]

Word family

  • ōrātiuncula

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
  5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  7. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson