orator

A person who delivers formal orations, or speeches, especially habitually or professionally. Two of history's most famous orators are Demosthenes (Greek) and Cicero (Roman). The study of the orator's art is a part of Rhetoric, which used to be one of the components of the Trivium.

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.

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.

© Webster 1913.