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.
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I am no orator, as Brutus is. --Shak.
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Some orator renowned
In Athens or free Rome. --Milton.
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2. (Law)
(a) In equity proceedings, one who prays for relief; a
petitioner.
(b) A plaintiff, or complainant, in a bill in chancery.
--Burrill.
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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}.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Public \Pub"lic\, a. [L. publicus, poblicus, fr. populus people:
cf. F. public. See {People}.]
1. Of or pertaining to the people; belonging to the people;
relating to, or affecting, a nation, state, or community;
-- opposed to {private}; as, the public treasury.
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To the public good
Private respects must yield. --Milton.
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He [Alexander Hamilton] touched the dead corpse of
the public credit, and it sprung upon its feet. --D.
Webster.
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2. Open to the knowledge or view of all; general; common;
notorious; as, public report; public scandal.
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Joseph, . . . not willing to make her a public
example, was minded to put her away privily. --Matt.
i. 19.
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3. Open to common or general use; as, a public road; a public
house. "The public street." --Shak.
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{public act} or {public statute} (Law), an act or statute
affecting matters of public concern. Of such statutes the
courts take judicial notice.
{Public credit}. See under {Credit}.
{Public funds}. See {Fund}, 3.
{Public house}, an inn, or house of entertainment.
{Public law}.
(a) See {International law}, under {International}.
(b) A public act or statute.
{Public nuisance}. (Law) See under {Nuisance}.
{Public orator}. (Eng. Universities) See {Orator}, 3.
{Public stores}, military and naval stores, equipments, etc.
{Public works}, all fixed works built by civil engineers for
public use, as railways, docks, canals, etc.; but
strictly, military and civil engineering works constructed
at the public cost.
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