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e firing; -- said esp. of a number of persons, as a line of soldiers. Also used (fig.) of speech or action. [Colloq.]

m of hearing anything spouted withers and blows upon a fine passage, may be seen in those speeches from [Shakespeare's] Henry V. which are current in the mouths of schoolboys. C. Lamb. A lady's maid whose character had been blown upon. Macaulay.

rupt in address; plain; unceremonious; wanting the forms of civility; rough in manners or speech. "Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behavior." "A plain, blunt man." Shak.

A bruptness of address; rude plainness. "Bluntness of speech." Boyle.

To depress or bear down with haughty, stern looks, or with arrogant speech and dogmatic assertions; to abash or disconcert by impudent or abusive words or looks; to bully; as, to browbeat witnesses. My grandfather was not a man to be browbeaten. W. Irving.

Speech-making for the gratification of constituents, or to gain public applause; flattering talk for a selfish purpose; anything said for mere show. [Cant or Slang, U.S.] All that flourish about right of search was bunkum -- all that brag about hanging your Canada sheriff was bunkum . . . slavery speeches are all bunku…

buzzes; a whisperer; a talebearer. And wants not buzzers to infect his ear With pestilent speeches of his father's death. Shak.

To show or disclose the class, character, or nationality of. [Obs.] This speech calls him Spaniard. Beau. & Fl.

Undisturbed by passion or emotion; not agitated or excited; tranquil; quiet in act or speech. "Calm and sinless peace." Milton. "With calm attention." Pope. Such calm old age as conscience pure And self-commanding hearts ensure. Keble.

The idioms and peculiarities of speech in any sect, class, or occupation. Goldsmith. The cant of any profession. Dryden.

Of first rate quality; excellent; as, a capital speech or song. [Colloq.]

. [Obs.] Without any of those dresses, or popular captations, which some men use in their speeches. Eikon Basilike.

That part of a speech, usually the exordium, in which the orator sets forth the subject matter to be discussed.

A causal word or form of speech. Anglo-Saxon drencan to drench, causal of Anglo-Saxon drincan to drink. Skeat.

re in thought and act; innocent; free from lewdness and obscenity, or indecency in act or speech; modest; as, a chaste mind; chaste eyes.

Angry; indicating anger; excited by anger. "Choleric speech." Sir W. Raleigh. Choleric temperament, the bilious temperament.

Circular; illogical. [Obs. & .] "Cross and circulary speeches." Hooker.

Showing skill or adroitness in the doer or former; as, a clever speech; a clever trick. Byron.

s; compassing signifying the purpose or design of the mind or will, and not, as in common speech, the carrying such design to effect. Blackstone.

One who complains or laments; one who finds fault; a murmurer. Beattie. Speechless complainer, I will learn thy thought. Shak.