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.
I am no orator, as Brutus is.
Shak. Some orator renowned
In Athens or free Rome.
Milton. 2. (Law)
(a) In equity proceedings, one who prays for relief; a petitioner. (b) A plaintiff, or complainant, in a bill in chancery. Burrill.
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.
Hear it pronounced