Word of the Day

allocution \al-uh-KYOO-shuhn\, noun: 1. A formal speech, especially one of an incontrovertible or hortatory nature. 2. A pronouncement delivered by the pope to a secret consistory, especially on a matter of policy or of general importance. The little crowd, with some ironical cheers and hootings, nevertheless felt the force of Madame Fribsby's vigorous allocution, and retreated before her… -- William Makepeace Thackeray, "The History of Pendennis" Towards midday, the abbé Pirard took leave of his pupils, not without first delivering a severe allocution. -- Stendhal, "The Red and the Black" Allocution stems from the Latin root alloquī which meant to "to speak, address." The suffix -ion forms nouns from stems, as in the words communion and opinion. Dictionary.com Word of the Day