-speech-

n. [ OE. speche, AS. sp&unr_;c, spr&unr_;, fr. specan, sprecan, to speak; akin to D. spraak speech, OHG. sprāhha, G. sprache, Sw. spr&unr_;k, Dan. sprog. See Speak. ] 1. The faculty of uttering articulate sounds or words; the faculty of expressing thoughts by words or articulate sounds; the power of speaking. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is none comparable to the variety of instructive expressions by speech, wherewith man alone is endowed for the communication of his thoughts. Holder. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. he act of speaking; that which is spoken; words, as expressing ideas; language; conversation. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Speech is voice modulated by the throat, tongue, lips, etc., the modulation being accomplished by changing the form of the cavity of the mouth and nose through the action of muscles which move their walls. [ 1913 Webster ]

O goode God! how gentle and how kind
Ye seemed by your speech and your visage
The day that maked was our marriage. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

The acts of God . . . to human ears
Can nort without process of speech be told. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A particular language, as distinct from others; a tongue; a dialect. [ 1913 Webster ]

People of a strange speech and of an hard language. Ezek. iii. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Talk; mention; common saying. [ 1913 Webster ]

The duke . . . did of me demand
What was the speech among the Londoners
Concerning the French journey. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. formal discourse in public; oration; harangue. [ 1913 Webster ]

The constant design of these orators, in all their speeches, was to drive some one particular point. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. ny declaration of thoughts. [ 1913 Webster ]

I. with leave of speech implored, . . . replied. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. Harangue; language; address; oration. See Harangue, and Language. [ 1913 Webster ]