declamatory

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   delivered in the forceful, formal manner of a public speech or recitation

   The actor adopted a declamatory tone for the general's final address.

2. 2
   adj

   pompously or pretentiously lofty in expression

   The essay's declamatory style made a modest proposal sound like a national crisis.

Formed from declaim or declamation + -atory. Declaim comes through French from Latin declamare, 'practice public speaking; speak rhetorically,' from de- as an intensifier + clamare, 'cry out.' The neutral oratorical sense developed a frequent critical implication of bombast.

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