n. [ OE. sermoun, sermun, F. sermon, fr. L. sermo, -onis, a speaking, discourse, probably fr. serer, sertum, to join, connect; hence, a connected speech. See Series. ]
This our life exempt from public haunts
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones and good in everything. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
His preaching much, but more his practice, wrought,
A living sermon of the truths he taught. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. i. [ Cf. OF. sermoner, F. sermonner to lecture one. ] To speak; to discourse; to compose or deliver a sermon. [ Obs. ] Holinshed. [ 1913 Webster ]
What needeth it to sermon of it more? Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t.
n. A sermonizer. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. A preacher; a sermonizer. [ Derogative or Jocose. ] Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. A short sermon.
n. The act of discoursing; discourse; instruction; preaching. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Resembling a sermon. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
n. See Sermonizer. [ 1913 Webster ]