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eaf-mutes are still so called, even when, by artificial methods, they have been taught to speak imperfectly.

ty or club, a society or club for the purpose of debate and improvement in extemporaneous speaking.

g or first attempt; hence, a first appearance before the public, as of an actor or public speaker.

To speak rhetorically; to make a formal speech or oration; to harangue; specifically, to recite a speech, poem, etc., in public as a rhetorical exercise; to practice public speaking; as, the students declaim twice a week.

The act or art of declaiming; rhetorical delivery; haranguing; loud speaking in public; especially, the public recitation of speeches as an exercise in schools and colleges; as, the practice declamation by students. The public listened with little emotion, but with much civility, to five acts of monotonous declamation.…

To harm or destroy the good fame or reputation of; to disgrace; especially, to speak evil of maliciously; to dishonor by slanderous reports; to calumniate; to asperse.

Concealment; seclusion. The mental organization of the novelist must be characterized, to speak craniologically, by an extraordinary development of the passion for delitescency. Sir W. Scott.

To make over to the knowledge of another; to communicate; to utter; to speak; to impart. Till he these words to him deliver might. Spenser. Whereof the former delivers the precepts of the art, and the latter the perfection. Bacon.

Act of speaking; utterance. [Archaic] Shak.

The act or style of utterance; manner of speaking; as, a good delivery; a clear delivery.

One who speaks through the teeth, that is, with the teeth closed.

The habit or practice of speaking through the teeth, or with them closed.

To speak ill of; to depreciate; to malign; to revile. [Obs.] And thou knowest, conscience, I came not to chide Nor deprave thy person with a proud heart. Piers Plowman.

Descending; falling; proceeding from an ancestor or source. More than mortal grace Speaks thee descendent of ethereal race. Pope.

ls to action or effort its continuance or possession; an eager wish to obtain or enjoy. Unspeakable desire to see and know. Milton.

A speaker in a dialogue.

To speak as a superior; to command; to impose conditions (on). Who presumed to dictate to the sovereign. Macaulay.

The speaking to, or the giving orders to, in an overbearing manner; authoritative utterance; as, his habit, even with friends, was that of dictatio.

's own powers; lack of self-reliance; modesty; modest reserve; bashfulness. It is good to speak on such questions with diffidence. Macaulay. An Englishman's habitual diffidence and awkwardness of adress. W. Irving.

ider carefully; to get an understanding of; to comprehend. Feelingly digest the words you speak in prayer. Sir H. Sidney. How shall this bosom multiplied digest The senate's courtesy Shak.