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Anciently, a bench or elevated place, from which speeches were delivered; in France, a kind of pulpit in the hall of the legislative assembly, where a member stands while making an address; any place occupied by a public orator.

nimble, quick step; with agility; nimbly. Sing, and dance it trippingly. Shak. Speak the speech . . . trippingly on the tongue. Shak.

signification to another, for the sake of giving life or emphasis to an idea; a figure of speech.

literal sense of the language of Scripture by explaining it as mere tropes and figures of speech.

A rhetorical mode of speech, including tropes, or changes from the original import of the word. Sir T. Browne.

Having a powerful, far-reaching voice or speech.

Turbulent; violent; as, a tumultuous speech.

A mode of speech peculiar to the Turks; a Turkish idiom or expression; also, in general, a Turkish mode or custom.

Not becoming; unsuitable; unfit; indecorous; improper. My grief lets unbecoming speeches fall. Dryden. -- Un`be*com"ing*ly, adv. -- Un`be*com"ing*ness, n.

Bland; suave; also, tender; fervid; as, an unctuous speech; sometimes, insincerely suave or fervid. -- Unc"tu*ous*ly, adv. -- Unc"tu*ous*ness, n.

deficient in beauty and elegance; inelegant; awkward; as, ungraceful manners; ungraceful speech. The other oak remaining a blackened and ungraceful trunk. Sir W. Scott. -- Un*grace"ful*ly, adv. -- Un*grace"ful*ness, n.

Vocal expression; articulation; speech. At length gave utterance to these words. Milton.

ly submissive to, a wife; uxorious; also, becoming a wife; pertaining to a wife. [R.] The speech [of Zipporah, Ex. iv. 25] is not a speech of reproach or indignation, but of uxorial endearment. Geddes.

fe and spirit; dead; spiritless; insipid; flat; dull; unanimated; as, vapid beer; a vapid speech; a vapid state of the blood. A cheap, bloodless reformation, a guiltless liberty, appear flat and vapid to their taste. Burke. -- Vap"id*ly, adv. -- Vap"id*ness, n.

mind; a particular disposition or cast of genius; humor; strain; quality; also, manner of speech or action; as, a rich vein of humor; a satirical vein. Shak. Certain discoursing wits which are of the same veins. Bacon. Invoke the Muses, and improve my vein. Waller.

A word which affirms or predicates something of some person or thing; a part of speech expressing being, action, or the suffering of action.

Abusive; scurrilous; defamatory; vile. [Obs.] "Viled speeches." Hayward.

Abusive, reproachful language; discourteous speech; foul talk. [Archaic] He never yet not vileinye ne said In all his life, unto no manner wight. Chaucer. In our modern language, it [foul language] is termed villainy, as being proper for rustic boors, or men of coarsest education and employment. Barrow. Villainy till a…

st or improper force; outrageous; unauthorized; as, a violent attack on the right of free speech. To bring forth more violent deeds. Milton. Some violent hands were laid on Humphrey's life. Shak.

Of or pertaining to the voice or speech; having voice; endowed with utterance; full of voice, or voices. To hill or valley, fountain, or fresh shade, Made vocal by my song. Milton.