Search the Dictionary

The territory ruled over by a monarch; a kingdom. What scourage for perjury Can this dark monarchy afford false Clarence. Shak. Fifth monarchy, a universal monarchy, supposed to be the subject of prophecy in Daniel ii.; the four preceding monarchies being Assyrian, Persian, Grecian, and Roman. See Fifth Monarchy men, u…

A speech uttered by a person alone; soliloquy; also, talk or discourse in company, in the strain of a soliloquy; as, an account in monologue. Dryden.

A kind of allegorical play, so termed because it consisted of discourses in praise of morality between actors representing such characters as Charity, Faith, Death, Vice, etc. Such plays were occasionally exhibited as late as the reign of Henry VIII. Strutt.

The act of moralizing; moral reflections or discourse.

A sentence, phrase, or word, prefixed to an essay, discourse, chapter, canto, or the like, suggestive of its subject matter; a short, suggestive expression of a guiding principle; a maxim. It was the motto of a bishop eminent for his piety and good works, ... "Serve God, and be cheerful." Addison.

turn my back. Shak. Down in the mouth, chapfallen; of dejected countenance; depressed; discouraged. [Obs. or Colloq.] -- Mouth friend, one who professes friendship insincerely. Shak. -- Mouth glass, a small mirror for inspecting the mouth or teeth. -- Mouth honor, honor given in words, but not felt. Shak. -- Mouth…

That part of a discourse which recites the time, manner, or consequences of an action, or simply states the facts connected with the subject.

Existing in idea only; visionary; whimsical. Discourses of speculative and notional things. Evelyn.

ell. Declining from the noon of day, The sun obliquely shoots his burning ray. Pope His discourse tends obliquely to the detracting from others. Addison.

Foolish discourse. [R.]

An elaborate discourse, delivered in public, treating an important subject in a formal and dignified manner; especially, a discourse having reference to some special occasion, as a funeral, an anniversary, a celebration, or the like; -- distinguished from an argument in court, a popular harangue, a sermon, a lecture, e…

c speaking in an eloquent or effective manner; the exercise of rhetorical skill in oral discourse; eloquence. "The oratory of Greece and Rome." Milton. When a world of men Could not prevail with all their oratory. Shak.

Of intellectual notions or ideas, like the topics of a discource.

art to a certain destined function or end. [R.] Those organic arts which enable men to discourse and write perspicuously. Milton.

To laugh (one) out of a purpose, principle, etc.; to discourage or discomfit by laughing; to laugh down. [R.] His apprehensions of being outlaughed will force him to continue in a restless obscurity. Franklin.

The study or knowledge of antiquities, esp. of prehistoric antiquities; a discourse or treatise on antiquities; archæology .

gy in praise of some person or achievement; a formal or elaborate encomium; a laudatory discourse; laudation. See Synonym of Eulogy.

A distinct part of a discourse or writing; any section or subdivision of a writing or chapter which relates to a particular point, whether consisting of one or many sentences. The division is sometimes noted by the mark

Conversation; discourse; talk; diction; phrase; as, in legal parlance; in common parlance. A hate of gossip parlance and of sway. Tennyson.

Mutual discourse or conversation; discussion; hence, an oral conference with an enemy, as with regard to a truce. We yield on parley, but are stormed in vain. Dryden. To beat a parley (Mil.), to beat a drum, or sound a trumpet, as a signal for holding a conference with the enemy.