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declaim. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
declaim, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
declaim in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
declaim you have here. The definition of the word
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declaim, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From Middle French declamer, from Latin dēclāmō.
Pronunciation
Verb
declaim (third-person singular simple present declaims, present participle declaiming, simple past and past participle declaimed)
- To object to something vociferously; to rail against in speech.
- 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.
1834–1874, George Bancroft, History of the United States, from the Discovery of the American Continent, volume (please specify |volume=I to X), Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown and Company [et al.], →OCLC:Grenville seized the opportunity to declaim on the repeal of the stamp act.
- 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.
Usage notes
Do not confuse declaim (inveigh against) with disclaim (refuse or disown); thus, the collocation declaim responsibility when meant as "refuse responsibility" is best repaired to become disclaim responsibility.
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
to recite in theatrical way
to recite as rhetorical exercise
Anagrams