Forms: α. 1–2 spræc, sprec, 2 sprace, spræche. β. 1 spæc, spec, 2 spece, 3 spæche (spache, spiche), 3–6 speche (4 spieche), 4–6 spech, 6– speech, 6–7 speach, speache; Sc. 6 speitche, 6–7 speiche. [OE. sprǽc, spréc (later spǽc, spéc), = OFris. sprêke, sprêtse (NFris. sprêk, spriak) and sprâke (WFris. sprake, sprack, EFris. sprôk), MDu. sprāke, spraec (Du. spraak), OS. sprâka (MLG. sprâke, LG. sprâke, sprâk, etc.; hence Sw. språk, Da. sprog), OHG. sprâhha (MHG. sprâche, G. sprache), f. sprǣc- the pret. pl. stem of sprecan, specan SPEAK v. As in the verb, the forms with spr- did not survive beyond the 12th century.]
I. 1. The act of speaking; the natural exercise of the vocal organs; the utterance of words or sentences; oral expression of thought or feeling.
c. 725. Corpus Gloss. (Hessels), S 299. Sermo, spręc.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, trans. Gregory’s Past. C., 274. Hit is awriten … ðætte hwilum sie spræce tiid, hwilum swiʓʓean.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. vi. 7. Hiʓ wenað þæt hi sin ʓehyrede on hyra meniʓfealden spæce.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 17. Hire forme fulst is sihðe:… Speche is hire oðer help.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 7197. Stalwarde mon of speche he was.
c. 1330. Assump. Virg. (B.M. MS.), 628. Oure mayne þee knewe þat ilke nyȝt Bothe bi speche & by syȝt.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 783. Hold up youre hond withoute more speche.
c. 1400. Love, Bonavent. Mirr. (1908), 53. For moche speche with oute frute is a grete vice and displesynge to god and man.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 261. Than schir Spynagrose with speche spak to the king.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xx. 4. In mekle speiche is part of vanitie.
1594. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., II. 89. Thus the thoughtes and counsailes of the minde and spirite are discouered and manifested by speach.
1667. Milton, P. L., VIII. 377. I with leave of speech implor’d, And humble deprecation thus repli’d.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., III. vi. (1695), 258. This is adjusted to the true end of Speech, which is to be the easiest and shortest way of communicating our Notions.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., I. § 14. Men … express their thoughts by speech.
1751. Harris, Hermes, Wks. (1841), 117. Since speech, then, is the joint energy of our best and noblest faculties.
1825. Scott, Talism., xxii. A movement … attended with no speech and very little noise.
1864. Reader, 14 May, 626. The author would define human speech as a method of expressing human thought by audible sounds.
1887. Bowen, Æneid, VI. 387. He accosts them, and first breaks silence in speech.
fig. 1611. Shaks., Wint. T., V. ii. 14. There was speech in their dumbnesse, Language in their very gesture.
transf. 1866. B. Taylor, Euphorion, Poems 273. The speech of winds.
1904. Swinburne, Channel Passage, etc. 181. The speech of storm, the thunders of the soul.
b. transf. The speaking or sounding of a musical instrument, organ-pipe, etc.
1862. Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit., II. No. 3377, Quickness of ‘speech,’ flute-like quality of tone,… are some of the characteristics of the English harmonium.
1880. Grove’s Dict. Music, II. 578. The manner of testing the ‘speech’ [of an organ] by blowing the pipe with the mouth in various ways.
1881. W. E. Dickson, Pract. Organ-building, xii. 146. The speech of the pipe will be entirely unaltered.
† c. fig. Mouth-piece; organ. Obs.–1
1578. T. N., trans. Conq. W. India (1596), 34–5. Certainly he was the meane and speech of all their proceedings.
2. Talk, speaking or discourse; colloquy, conversation, conference. Commonly const. with or of (a person), and chiefly occurring in phrases, esp. to have speech.
† In speech with, in negotiation with. Obs.
(a) c. 900. trans. Bæda’s Hist., III. xxviii. 248. Osweo … & Ecgberht … hæfdon betweoh him spræce & ʓeþeahte, hwæt to donne wære [etc.].
c. 975. Rushw. Gosp., John xi. 47. ʓisomnadun … ða biscopas & æ-larwas to sprece.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, iv. 342. Se dema … æfter langsumre spræce let þa modor to þam suna.
c. 1200. Ormin, 12803. Biforenn þatt Filippe toc To clepenn þe to spæche.
c. 1400. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), IV. xxiv. 70. We shalle take the right weye to the yonder lady of whiche we ben in speche.
1604. Shaks., Oth., II. iii. 225. Montano and my selfe being in speech, There comes a Fellow.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 1133. Adam … Speech intermitted thus to Eve renewd.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., Concl. xxvi. Again the feast, the speech, the glee.
(b) c. 900. trans. Bæda’s Hist., I. xxvii. 72. Hafa ðu mid þone ilcan biscop sprece & ʓeþeahte hwæt to donne sy.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 584. Seo cwen ða hæfde spræce wið Salomon.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1085. Æfter þisum hæfde se cyng mycel ʓeþeaht & swiðe deope spæce wið his witan ymbe þis land.
c. 1275. O. E. Misc., 86. Ich hit am … þat wiþ þe holde speche.
1489. Cely Papers (Camden), 15. I am in speche wyt Hewe Brone mercer for money.
1596. Harington, in Metam. Ajax (1814), p. xiv. To make him come to speech with him.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, II. v. 62. He desires Some priuate speech with you.
1653. Holcroft, Procopius, Goth. Wars, II. 60. Venetia; where having speech with Vitalius, they repented of their Errour against the Emperour.
1819. Scott, Ivanhoe, xliii. When, in speech with each other, they expanded their blubber lips.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. II. ii. There is speech of men in uniform with men not in uniform.
(c) 1599. Shaks., Much Ado, V. ii. 3. Praie thee … deserue well at my hands, by helping mee to the speech of Beatrice.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xxxiv. Look to it that none have speech of her.
1858. M. Arnold, Merope, 928. A messenger … Arrived, and of the King had speech but now.
1872. Black, Adv. Phaeton, xii. 165. He had come from London to get speech of his sweetheart.
b. With possessive pronoun, or the and genitive: The opportunity of speaking or conversing with a person; an audience or interview with one. In phrases to come, be admitted, bring, to (one’s) speech. Now arch. or Obs.
c. 900. trans. Bæda’s Hist., I. xxv. 58. Se cyning … het Agustinum mid his ʓeferum þider to his spræce cuman.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1093. Ne mihte he beon weorðe … ure cynges spæce. Ibid. (1123), an. 1123. Ær hi mihte cumen to þes papes spræce.
1451. Capgrave, Life St. Aug., 16. Sche is come to lond and to þe speche of hir son.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 384 b. Being admitted to his speache aboute the begynnynge of December.
1595. Raleigh, Discov. Guiana, 2. In all that time we came not to the speach of any Indian or Spaniard.
1640. trans. Verdere’s Rom. of Rom., II. 169. I will bring you to the speech of her whom it represents.
1690. G. Farewell, in Andros Tracts, II. 187. He could never obtaine a releasement, or by any meanes come to the speech of any of their Magistrates.
1734. Col. Records Pennsylv., III. 548. They were admitted after some time to the Speech of the Prisoners.
1778. Hist. Eliza Warwick, II. 49. Sir Charles’s valet … soon brought her to the speech of him.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, V. i. ¶ 65. He found the means of getting to the speech of me in private.
1821. Scott, Nigel, xxvii. To the speech of the King you will not come so easily, unless you … meet him alone.
c. Mention of a thing. Also with no. Now rare.
c. 1305. Land Cokayne, 111, in E. E. P. (1862), 159. N’is no spech of no drink, Ak take inoȝ wiþ-vte swink.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., I. 1115. Conuenyent hit is to knowe, of bathis Whil speche is mad [etc.].
1565. Randolph, in Tytler, Hist. Scot. (1864), III. 194/1. The speech of this marriage to any of them all … is so much contrary to their desires that [etc.].
1592. Arden of Feversham, IV. iv. 66. But see in any case you make no speache Of the cheare we had at my Lord Cheineis.
1659. H. Thorndike, Wks. (1846), II. 550. Being meant of the vine which he had speech of a little afore that.
1864. Trollope, Can you forgive her? I. xix. 150. No payment of former loans had been made, nor had there been any speech of such.
† d. To take the speech [after F. prendre la parole], to take one’s turn in conversation. Obs.–1
1612. Shelton, Quix., I. IV. xiv. 453. Then she taking the speech, demanded … whether I was a Gentleman.
3. Common or general talk; report, rumor, or current mention of something. Freq. with much or great. Now rare or Obs. (Cf. 9 a.)
c. 1200. Ormin, 4877. All onn hæþing & o skarn Off me gaþ eȝȝwhær spæche.
c. 1275. Lay., 4018. Þo was mochel speche ouer al þeos kineriche of Juden þare cwene.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 31. Anon as Demephon it herde, And every man it hadde in speche, His sorwe was noght tho to seche.
c. 1400. Three Kings Cologne (1886), 51. Grete speche was in all þe contrey among all þe pepil long tyme after of hem.
1533. More, Debell. Salem, Wks. 930/1. And of thys trauail … I herde much speach made almost euery weeke.
1562. Child-Marriages, 99. He sais he dwellid nere them, & ther was spech of such thinges, but he toke no hede of them.
1601. B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum. (Q.1), III. ii. 35. Doctor Clement, what’s he? I haue heard much speech of him.
1622. Bacon, Hen. VII., 211. My Lord, I haue heard much of your Hospitalitie, but I see it is greater then the speach.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. II. i. There comes Committee Report on that Decree…, and speech of repealing it.
† b. Const. with inf. or clause. Obs.
1600. E. Blount, Hosp. Incur. Fooles, 309. Besides there was speech to sende fowre galliasses and twelue galleies.
1616. Sir C. Mountagu, in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 250. There is now speech the Lord Chief Baron shall go into the King’s Bench.
1677. W. Hubbard, Narrative, II. 5. In the mean time before there was yet any Speech, or endeavour to settle any other Plantation in those parts.
† c. In speech, spoken about, mentioned. Obs.
1602. Sir H. Savile, in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 36. A fit man is sought out to be employed…, and yourself already here in speech for that service.
1617–8. Sir D. Carleton, Lett. (1775), 233. I have been moved … concerning the residence of our merchant-adventurers, which hath been often attempted, and is now again in speech, to be removed from Middleburg.
1628. Hobbes, trans. Thucydides (1822), 13. The truest quarrel, though least in speech, I conceive to be the growth of the Athenian power.
II. 4. The form of utterance peculiar to a particular nation, people, or group of persons; a language, tongue or dialect.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xviii. § 2. Forðon hiora spræc is todæled on twa & [on] hundscofontiʓ, & ælc þara spræca is todæled on maneʓa þioda.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gen. xi. 1. Ealle men spræcon ane spræce.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1095. Þa het he makian ænne castel … & hine on his spæce Malueisin het, þæt is on Englisc Yfel nehhebur.
c. 1200. Ormin, Ded., 130. And tærfore hafe icc turnedd itt Inntill Ennglisshe spæche. Ibid., 16057. To spekenn wel Wiþþ alle þede spæchess.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 665. Al was on speche ðor bi-foren, ðor woren sundri speches boren.
13[?]. Cursor M., 2270 (Gött.). Þat first was bot an and na ma; Nou er þer spechis sexti and tua.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 93. Gildas … turnede þese tweie lawes out of Bretoun speche in to Latyn.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), iii. 8. Þare er also many oþer diuerse cuntreez and spechez … obeyand to þe emperour.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Kings xviii. 26. Speake to thy seruauntes in the Syrians language,… and speake not vnto vs in the Iewes speche.
1547. Boorde, Introd. Knowledge, iv. (1870), 137. In Scotlande they haue two sondry speches.
1603. G. Owen, Pembrokeshire (1892), 17. Both the ffleminges and ffrench speach alltogether worne awaie.
1674. trans. Scheffer’s Lapland, 74. When from the original of the People he infers the same of the Speech.
1727. De Foe, Syst. Magic, I. i. (1840), 17. The several families who understood one another’s speech kept together.
1840. Hood, Up the Rhine, 31. They deal in foreign gestures, And use a foreign speech.
1875. Whitney, Life Lang., iii. 37. There are at least two sounds in the Anglo-Saxon which are unknown in our present speech.
5. The faculty or power of speaking, or of expressing thoughts by articulate sounds.
a. 1000[?]. Laws Ethelb., § 52 (Liebermann). ʓif spræc awyrd weorð .XII. scillingas.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., II. 288. ʓif hwam seo spræc oþfylð.
c. 1053. O. E. Chron. (MS. C), an. 1053. Þa færinga sah he niðer wið þæs fotsetles spræce benumen.
a. 1175. in Napier, Holy Rood-tree, 8. [Me] iðuht wæs þæt mi spece me ætfeallæn wæs.
c. 1200. Ormin, 7299. Hemm alle beþ o Domess daȝȝ Binumenn muþ & spæche.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 495. Muð bute speche, ehnen buten sihðe.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 1489. No ȝede he bot ten stride, His speche les he þar.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. xxiii. (Bodl. MS.). Euerich beest þat is with oute lunges is with oute voice and speche.
c. 1420. Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 517. Yef I may see hys fase, For euer of hys speche I shall hym depryue.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, i. 8. When in … man we … consider Speech: must wee not needes say that he was made to communicate himselfe to many?
1676. South, Serm. (1715), 342. That Speech was given to the ordinary Sort of Men, whereby to communicate their Mind; but to wise Men, whereby to conceal it.
1732. Lediard, Sethos, II. IX. 288. The Governor … had recover’d the use of his speech.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., II. 469. Had thought been all, sweet speech had been deny’d.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iv. I. 439. Soon after dawn the speech of the dying man failed.
a. 1854. H. Reed, Lect. Eng. Lit., iii. (1878), 88. Speech, even more than reason, distinguishes man from the brute.
fig. 1664. Marvell, Corr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 167. Seeing upon so extraordinary occasions as these, the boldest eloquence would lose its speech.
6. Manner or mode of speaking; esp. the method of utterance habitual to a particular person. Usually with possessives.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxvi. 73. Soþlice þu eart of hym, & þin spræc [Hatt. sprace] þe ʓeswutelað.
c. 1200. Ormin, 2207. Siþþenn seȝȝde he sone anan Wiþþ all full openn spæche [etc.].
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 8535. He was quointe of conseil & speke [v.r. speche] & of bodi strong.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 30. No non [was] so faire of face, of spech so lufly.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Clerk’s T., 797. O goode God! how gentil and how kynde Ye semede by your speche and your visage.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xviii. 31. And be I ornat in my speiche, Than Towsy sayis [etc.].
1535. Coverdale, Mark xiv. 70. Thou art a Galilean, and thy speach soundeth euen alike.
1598. Yong, Diana, 347. Putting a corner of his handkercher in his mouth, bicause he would not be knowen by his speech.
1644. Milton, Educ. (1738), 137. Their Speech is to be fashioned to a distinct and clear pronounciation.
1781. Cowper, Table-T., 346. His speech, his form, his action, full of grace.
1839. Fr. A. Kemble, Resid. in Georgia (1863), 67. They are languid in their deportment and speech.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1877), I. App. 725. Charmed with the handsome countenance and ready speech of the youth.
III. 7. The result of speaking; that which is spoken or uttered: a. With possessives, etc.: One’s words, discourse or talk.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., 192. Ðu bist ðonne … ʓehæft mid ðinre aʓenre spræce.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., John viii. 43. Sprec min ne onʓeattas ʓie.
c. 1000. Lambeth Ps. cxviii. 172. Freabodaþ vel mærsað tunge min spæce þin.
c. 1075. O. E. Chron. (Parker MS.), an. 1070. Þa angan Thomas his spæce hu he com to Cantuuarebyri [etc.].
c. 1200. Ormin, 18736. All þuss he spacc onnȝæness hemm To lihhnenn þeȝȝre spæche.
a. 1250. Prov. Ælfred (C.), 22. He was wis on his worde, and war on his speche.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 27932. Speche o disur, Rimes vnright, gest of Jogolur.
1382. Wyclif, John viii. 43. Whi knowen ȝe not my speche? for ȝe mown not heere my word.
c. 1460. Vrbanitatis, in Babees Bk. (1868), 15. With þy speche þou may þe spylle.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Sam. xxv. 33. Blessed be thy speach, and blessed be thou.
1553. Huloet, Dict., A j, A.A.A which is the primitive Speache or naturall voyce of a Baby.
1605. Camden, Rem. (1623), 39. You may frame your speech according to the matter you must worke on.
1644. Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 31. They who to States and Governours of the Commonwealth direct their Speech.
1779. Mirror, No. 64. Every one seemed impatient of his neighbour’s speech, and eager to have an opportunity of introducing his own.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xxiii. A man, whose mixed speech of earthly wealth and unearthly … knowledge, hath in it [etc.].
1860. Trench, Serm. Westm. Abbey, ix. 117. We may be quite sure that as our speech is, so we are.
b. In general use.
Part of speech: see PART sb. 19.
971. Blickl. Hom., 225. Ne ʓehyrde næniʓ man on his muþe oht elles nefne Cristes lof & nytte spræce.
a. 1023. Wulfstan, Hom. (1883), 299. Haliʓ, ʓeþanc and god spæc and fullfremed worc.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1114. He wolde sprecon mid him dærne sprece.
c. 1205. Lay., 445. Pandrasum þene king he grette mid greiðlicre speche.
c. 1275. Passion our Lord, 257, in O. E. Misc. Vre louerd hym onswerede myd swyþe veyre speche.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. II. 23. Fauuel with feir speche haþ brouȝt hem to-gedere.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 739. Reviles he þis oþire renke with vnrid speche.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 92 b. [He] defendeth with hygh and clamorous wordes or speche his opinyon.
1581. Lambarde, Eiren., I. ii. (1588), 11. The Statutes … do all (in playne speach) couple the maintenance of the Peace with the pursuing of suites.
1647. Trapp, Comm. 1 Tim. v. 13. 314. The Rabbins have a Proverb, That ten Kabs of speech descended into the world, and the women took away nine of them.
1697. trans. Burgersdicius’ Logic, I. xxiv. 98. Speech is either perfect or imperfect. Perfect is that that absolves the Sentence; an imperfect is not.
1821. Shelley, Ginevra, 62. If … wildered looks, or words, or evil speech,… can impeach Our love.
1872. Huxley, Physiol., VII. 184. Speech is voice modulated by the throat, tongue, and lips.
1874. Sayce, Compar. Philol. i. 14. Speech is uttered thought.
† c. = LOGOS. Obs. rare.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, v. (1592), 50. The same thing which in the Trinitie we call the Sonne, the Word, the Speech.
8. A certain number of words uttered by a person at one time; esp. a more or less formal utterance or statement with respect to something.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xl. § 1. Hwæðer ðu nu onʓite hwider þios spræce wille?
971. Blickl. Hom., 195. Þa mycclan spræca … weorþaþ him þonne ealle on heaf ʓehwyrfede.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gen. xvii. 22. God þa astah upp … siððan he þas spræce ʓeendod hæfde.
a. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 11. Godes forbode, ðe me forbett alle euele spaches.
a. 1275. Prov. Ælfred, 353. Gin þu neuere leuen alle monnis spechen.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1261. Þe knyȝt with speches skere, Answared to vche a cace.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. X. 34. Alle þing at his wille was wrouȝt wiþ a speche.
1508. Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 239. Onone quhen this amyable had endit hir speche … the laif allowit hir mekle.
1548. Geste, Pr. Masse, G j. Yf thone be through the sayd speche autorysed to sacryfyce christis body, the other is in lyke maner.
1611. Bible, Transl. Pref., ¶ 3. He would not suffer it to be broken off for whatsoeuer speaches or practises.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., III. xii. 181. Many have been the wise speeches of fools, though not so many as the foolish speeches of wise men.
1710. Tatler, No. 266, ¶ 3. I began to make him compliments of condolence; but he started from his chair, and said, Isaac, you may spare your speeches.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xxxi. His quivering lip and lurking eye made her almost repent the boldness of her speech.
1819. Scott, Ivanhoe, xxix. From the speeches of these men who were my warders just now, I learn that I am a prisoner.
1841. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, ii. The traveller returned no answer to this speech.
† b. An account or mention of something. Obs.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 223. By þat wall is þe bath Byaneus made, of þe whiche baþ was raþer a speche [L. de quo supra dicitur].
† c. A talk or discourse between persons or with another. Obs.
1469. Plumpton Corr. (Camden), 23. It were well done that ye had a speech with Mr. Midleton of the forme of the pleading.
1483. Cath. Angl., 352/2. A Speche, colloquium.
1508. Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 12. I hard … Ane hie speiche, at my hand, with hautand wourdis.
1633. Bp. Hall, Hard Texts, 507. Hitherto I have related the speech which the angel had with me.
d. An address or discourse of a more or less formal character delivered to an audience or assembly; an oration; also, the manuscript or printed copy or report of this.
1583–4. Reg. Privy Council Scot., III. 631. Maister Andro Melvile … answerit that, althocht the speitche [sc. a sermon] wer alledgit to be treasoun, yit the tryell in the first instance aucht not to be befoir the King, bot befoir the Kirk.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. xiii. § 7. Demosthenes … had ready framed a number of prefaces for orations and speeches.
1617. Moryson, Itin., II. 71. After him Sir Francis Bacon concluded the accusation with a very eloquent speech.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 731. Some Patriot Fools to popular Praise aspire, Of Publick Speeches, which worse Fools admire.
1758. Ann. Reg., 151/2. Four days after the speech was delivered, her royal highness carried it to the assembly of the States General.
1771. Junius’ Lett., xlii. (1788), 237. The consideration of his Majesty’s speech of 13th November 1770, and the subsequent measures of government.
1827. Hare, Guesses (1859), 427. The difference between a speech and an essay should be something like that between a field of battle and a parade.
1855. Dickens, Lett. (1880), I. 400. They are going to print my speech in a tract-form.
1897. Westm. Gaz., 13 Jan., 1/1. The Council for the settlement of the Speech from the Throne at the opening of Parliament.
e. A school exercise or composition declaimed or recited upon speech-day.
1885. C. E. Pascoe, London of To-day, xviii. 133. The proceedings on this anniversary begin with the ‘speeches,’ delivered in ‘Upper School,’ in Greek, Latin [etc.].
† 9. a. A report or rumor. Obs. (Cf. 3.)
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Luke vii. I7. Ða ferde þeos spæc [v.r. spræc] be him on ealle iudea.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 1884. For þan sall spring vp þe speche & sprede out of mynd, How I haue conquired a kyng þe kidest of þe werd.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 760. That there was a speech of a marriage to be made betwixt Mustapha and the Persian kings daughter.
1654. Nicholas Papers (Camden), II. 145. There is a speech here of many tropes discharged by Cromwells consent.
1660. Essex Co. (Mass.) Crt. Rec., in Geneal. Q. Mag., III. 29. There was a speech that one Mr. Browne … had lost a mare.
† b. A current saying or assertion. Obs.
1575. Gascoigne, Flowers, Wks. 1907, I. 64. The common speech is, spend and God will send.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. (1586), 20 b. The common people haue a speache, that ground enriched with Chalke, makes a riche father, anda beggerly sonne.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, V. xvii. (1647), 257. It was the common speech that the Holy land had long since been wonne, but for the false Collusion of the Templars … with the Infidels.
1642. trans. Perkins’ Prof. Bk., v. § 411. 177. It is a common speech, That the dower of a woman ought to be assigned unto her by metes and bounds.
† c. A phrase, term or idiom. Obs.
1596. Spenser, State Irel., Wks. (Globe), 676. For Borh in old Saxon signifyeth a pledge or suretye, and yet it is soe used with us in some speaches, as Chaucer sayeth; St. John to borrowe.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 399. In ancient time, a Mouse-killer was taken for an opprobrious speech.
1675. Brooks, Gold. Key, Wks. 1867, V. 411. Vorsitus thinks it a speech taken from the custom of soldiers or cities.
† 10. A claim, cause, or suit, esp. of a legal nature; a law-plea. Obs. (common in OE.).
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xxviii. 196. Ðeah hie ryhte spræce hæbben hiera yfel on him to tælonne.
961. in Thorpe, Charters, 203. Þæt þis æfre ʓesett spræc wære.
c. 1000. Ags. Ps. (Thorpe), ix. 4. Forðam þu demst minne dom and mine spræce.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 179. And ȝief he him [sc. his underling] set a speche and mid woȝedome binimeð him his biliue.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 398. Þe nyhtegale … hire ofþuhte þat heo hadde Þe speche so feor uorþ iladde. Ibid., 545. Yet nis þeos speche ibroht to dome.
c. 1381. Chaucer, Parl. Foules, 489. Frome the morowe gan this spech last Tyll don-warde went the sonne wonder fast. [Cf. 495 Whan shall your cursyd pledynge haue an ende.]
c. 1450. Godstow Reg., 157. The sentence of this covenaunte … was, that the said Abbesse shold withdraw her speche the which she hadde ayenst the said Symond afore the kyngis Iustice.
† b. A manorial court in the Forest of Dean (cf. quot. and SPEECH-HOUSE). Obs.
1687. Customs Miners Dean Forest, 15 § 26. The Constable … shall deliver the Miners in six weeks at the Speech, that is the Court for the Wood before the Verderors,… sufficient of Timber [etc.].
11. slang. (See quot.)
1874. Slang Dict., 303. Speech, a tip or wrinkle on any subject. On the turf a man will wait before investing on a horse until he ‘gets the speech,’ as to whether it is going to try, or whether it has a good chance. To ‘give the speech,’ is to communicate any special information of a private nature.
IV. 12. attrib. and Comb. a. Simple attrib., as speech-apparatus, -break, -deafness, defect, -element, -form, -sound, etc. (Freq. in recent use.)
1842. Penny Cycl., XXII. 430/2. The machinery of respiration, of vocalization, and of enunciation, together constitute the *speech-apparatus.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., To Rdr. The great *Speech-break at Babel.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VII. 429. To this condition Lichtheim gave the name of ‘isolated *speech-deafness.’ Ibid., 394. Aphasia and other *Speech Defects.
1865. trans. Strauss’ New Life Jesus, I. Introd. 179. In the latest of our Gospels … the overweight is again on the side of the *speech-element.
1863. W. Barnes, Dorset Gloss., 9. The main marks of south-western English, as it differs from the *speech-forms of the north.
1873. Earle, Philol. Eng. Tongue (ed. 2), § 320. Grimm bewails this seduction of the *speech-genius from the true path.
1886. Tupper, My Life as Author, 133. As a youth … I was, from the *speech-impediment since overcome, isolated from the gaieties of society.
1842. Penny Cycl., XXII. 429/1. The voice … may possess the peculiar conditions of those distinctions which constitute *speech-notes.
1869. A. J. Ellis, E. E. Pronunc., I. Introd. 1. In order to write intelligibly on *speech sounds, some systematic means of representing them must be adopted.
1820. W. Tooke, Lucian, I. 230. I can make *speech-traps, in which I catch those who talk with me.
1842. Penny Cycl., XXII. 431/2. Respiration and *speech-voice training will follow.
1887. Morris, Odyssey, IX. 258. Yet even so with *speech-words I answered again and spake.
b. With agent-nouns, verbal sbs., or present pples., as speech-bringer; speech-bereaving, -getting, -making, -shunning, etc.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T., Wks. (Grosart), IV. 224. The speech-shunning sores, and sight-acking botches of theyr vnsatiate intemperance.
1608. Day, Hum. out of Br., III. ii. If speech-bereaving love will let thee speak.
1717. Rowe, Poems, Wks. 1728, I. 79. That Tyburn-Tribe of speech-making Non-jurors.
1798. Coleridge, Tears in Solit., 57. A vain, speech-mouthing speech-reporting Guild.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. I. ii. Their miraculous healer and speech-bringer is rapt away.
1875. Whitney, Life Lang., ii. 13. The whole process of speech-getting.
c. With past pples., as speech-bound, -famed, -flooded.
1761. Churchill, Rosciad, 30. Was speech-fam’d Q—n himself to hear him speak.
1870. Rossetti, Poems, House Life, xxii. The speech-bound sea-shell’s low importunate strain.
1883. Bryce, Amer. Commw., III. lxxiv. II. 611. England has since 1876 become the most speech-flooded country in the world.
13. Special combs.: speech-centre (see quots.); speech-craft, the knowledge or science of speech; speech-crier, one who hawked the ‘last dying speeches’ of criminals; speech-day, the day at the end of the school year upon which exercises are declaimed and the annual prizes distributed in certain public schools; speech-reading, the action on the part of deaf and domb persons of comprehending speech by watching the movements of a speaker’s mouth; so speech-reader; speech-room, the room or hall at Harrow School in which speeches are delivered.
1879. Syd. Soc. Lex., s.v. Centre, *Speech centre,… a cortical centre situated in the region of the posterior extremity of the third left frontal convolution.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VI. 759. In their opinion this bundle … connects the cortical centre for sight with the auditory speech-centre.
1573. R. Lever, Arte Reason, 6. The arte of measuring, witcrafte, *speachcraft, starre-crafte, &c.
1878. W. Barnes (title), An Outline of English Speech-Craft.
1856. J. Ballantine, Poems, 68. Ilk wee *speech-crier, Ilk lazy ballant singin’ idler.
1870. H. Lonsdale, Life R. Knox, vi. 109. Speech-criers of the last horrid doings of Burke and the doctors.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xxiv. He used to go down on *speech-days … and scatter new shillings among the boys.
1898. G. W. E. Russell, Collect. & Recoll., xxxv. 482. The budding scholar received his prize or declaimed his verses on Speech-Day.
1911. J. K. Love, Deaf Child, 161. The best speakers amongst the deaf and dumb are not always the best *speech-readers.
1891. R. Elliott, Elem. Lang. Deaf, Pref. p. v. *Speech and lip-reading should form the medium of communication and explanation.
1880. Trevelyan, Hist. C. J. Fox, ii. 50. Fox … was always to the front both in the *speech-room and the debating society.
1884. Jrnl. Educ., 1 Sept., 347/2. My memory takes me back some five-and-twenty years to the old speech-room at Harrow.
