Allocutions

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A structured discourse or formal speech intended for an audience can serve as guidance or instruction about important subjects
2. Speeches delivered formally to audiences, often to instruct or inform on important matters
3. Official talks directed at listeners with the purpose of persuading or enlightening them

Etymology: "Allocutions" is the plural of "allocution," which English borrowed directly from Latin "allocutiō," meaning "address." The Latin noun comes from "alloquī," to speak to someone, built from "ad" (to) and "loquī" (to speak), so an allocution is literally a speaking-to. The Latin root "loquī" also gave English words such as "eloquent," "colloquial" and "loquacious," all of which share the same core idea of speech. What separates "allocution" is its formality: it kept the sense of a formal, often ceremonial address, which is why it is usually applied to speeches delivered from a position of authority, such as a pope's address to the faithful or a judge's remarks before sentencing.

Synonyms: addresses, speeches, discourses