oratress

A woman stands at a podium as an oratress, addressing a quiet audience.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A female orator: "oratress" refers to a woman who delivers speeches, especially in a formal or public setting, or one who is skilled in public speaking and rhetoric.

Usage Examples

• (A female speaker who impressed listeners.)
• (A woman skilled in public speaking.)

Advanced Usage

• "The oratress of the movement": a phrase used to describe a woman who is the primary or most effective spokesperson for a cause.
  • She became the oratress of the women's suffrage movement, inspiring thousands. (She was the leading female speaker for the cause.)

Variants and Related Words

• Orator (n): a person who delivers speeches, typically male or gender-neutral.
  • The orator spoke for hours without notes. (A skilled public speaker.)
• Oratory (n): the art or practice of formal speaking in public.
  • His oratory was praised for its clarity and passion. (His skill in public speaking.)
• Oratress is the feminine form, now considered somewhat archaic or rare; modern usage often prefers "female orator" or "speaker."

Synonyms

• Female speaker: a woman who addresses an audience.
• Rhetorician: a person skilled in rhetorical speech (can be used for any gender).
• Public speaker: a person who speaks formally to groups.

Related Idioms

• "To hold the floor": to speak in a formal meeting or debate, often for a long time.
  • The oratress held the floor for over an hour, answering questions. (She spoke continuously in a formal setting.)
• "To have a silver tongue": to be eloquent and persuasive in speech.
  • Many said the oratress had a silver tongue, swaying even the skeptics. (She was very persuasive.)