different between speech vs malediction

English

Alternative forms

• speach (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English speche, from Old English sp??, spr?? (“speech, discourse, language”), from Proto-Germanic *spr?kij?, *spr?k? (“speech, language”), from Proto-Indo-European *spereg-, *spreg- (“to make a sound”). Cognate with Dutch spraak (“speech”), German Sprache (“language, speech”). More at speak.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?spi?t?/
• Rhymes: -i?t?

Noun

speech (countable and uncountable, plural speeches)

1. (uncountable) The faculty of uttering articulate sounds or words; the ability to speak or to use vocalizations to communicate.
2. (countable) A session of speaking, especially a long oral message given publicly by one person.

   Synonyms: monologue, oration, soliloquy

   • 1720, Jonathan Swift, A Letter to a Young Clergyman

     The constant design of both these orators, in all their speeches, was to drive some one particular point.
3. A style of speaking.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:speech
4. (grammar) Speech reported in writing; see direct speech, reported speech
5. A dialect or language.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:language
6. Talk; mention; rumour.

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Related terms

• speak

Translations

Verb

speech (third-person singular simple present speeches, present participle speeching, simple past and past participle speeched)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To make a speech; to harangue.
   • 1711, Jonathan Swift, An Excellent New Song

     I'll speech against peace while Dismal's my name, / And be a true whig, while I'm Not-in-game.

Derived terms

• bespeech

Anagrams

• cheeps

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from English speech.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /spit?/

Noun

speech m (plural speechen or speeches, diminutive speechje n)

1. speech, oration (oral monologic address of some length)

   redevoering (“toespraak”)

Derived terms

• speechen

Anagrams

• scheep

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /spit?/

Noun

speech m (plural speechs)

1. An informal speech

Synonyms

• allocution

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French malédiction, from Latin maledicti? (“curse”) from malus (“evil”) + dicti? (“speech”) noun of action from perfect passive participle dictus (“spoken”), from verb d?c? (“speak”).

Noun

malediction (countable and uncountable, plural maledictions)

1. A curse.

   Antonym: benediction
2. Evil speech.

Related terms

• maledictive
• maledictory

Translations