from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Orator \Or"a*tor\, n. [L., fr. orare to speak, utter. See
{Oration}.]
1. A public speaker; one who delivers an oration; especially,
one distinguished for his skill and power as a public
speaker; one who is eloquent.
[1913 Webster]
I am no orator, as Brutus is. --Shak.
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Some orator renowned
In Athens or free Rome. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Law)
(a) In equity proceedings, one who prays for relief; a
petitioner.
(b) A plaintiff, or complainant, in a bill in chancery.
--Burrill.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Eng. Universities) An officer who is the voice of the
university upon all public occasions, who writes, reads,
and records all letters of a public nature, presents, with
an appropriate address, those persons on whom honorary
degrees are to be conferred, and performs other like
duties; -- called also {public orator}.
[1913 Webster]
from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
ORATOR, practice. A good man, skillful in speaking well, and who employs a
perfect eloquence to defend causes either public or private. Dupin,
Profession d'Avocat, tom. 1, p. 19..
2. In chancery, the party who files a bill calls himself in those
pleadings your orator. Among the Romans, advocates were called orators.
Code, 1, 8, 33, 1.