obsecration

A priest raises his hands in solemn obsecration before the altar.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Supplication or earnest entreaty: "Obsecration" refers to an act of begging or imploring someone, often in a religious or formal context, characterized by deep humility and urgency. It is a rare and formal term, typically used in historical or liturgical settings.

Usage Examples

• (A formal, humble prayer of supplication.)
• (A desperate, earnest plea.)

Advanced Usage

• "Obsecration in rhetoric": In classical rhetoric, it is a figure of speech where a speaker makes an earnest appeal, often invoking God or a higher power.
  • The orator's obsecration at the climax of the speech swayed the audience. (A rhetorical device using a passionate plea.)

Variants and Related Words

• Obsecrate (verb): to beseech or implore earnestly; to supplicate.

  • They obsecrated the governor to spare the village. (They begged humbly and urgently.)

• Obsecratory (adj): relating to or characterized by obsecration.

  • The obsecratory tone of the letter revealed their desperation. (The tone was one of earnest pleading.)

Synonyms

• Supplication: the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly.
• Entreaty: an earnest or humble request.
• Plea: a request made in an urgent and emotional manner.

Related Idioms

• To fall on one's knees: to make an obsecration in a physical posture of humility.

  • He fell on his knees in obsecration for her safety. (He begged with extreme humility.)

• To beg for mercy: to express obsecration in a desperate situation.

  • The prisoner's obsecration for mercy was ignored. (His earnest plea for leniency.)