v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Declaimed p. pr. & vb. n. Declaiming. ] [ L. declamare; de- + clamare to cry out: cf. F. déclamer. See Claim. ] 1. To speak rhetorically; to make a formal speech or oration; to harangue; specifically, to recite a speech, poem, etc., in public as a rhetorical exercise; to practice public speaking; as, the students declaim twice a week. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To speak for rhetorical display; to speak pompously, noisily, or theatrically; to make an empty speech; to rehearse trite arguments in debate; to rant. [ 1913 Webster ]

Grenville seized the opportunity to declaim on the repeal of the stamp act. Bancroft. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To utter in public; to deliver in a rhetorical or set manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To defend by declamation; to advocate loudly. [ Obs. ] “Declaims his cause.” South. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A declaimer. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who declaims; an haranguer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. declamatio, from declamare: cf. F. déclamation. See Declaim. ] 1. The act or art of declaiming; rhetorical delivery; haranguing; loud speaking in public; especially, the public recitation of speeches as an exercise in schools and colleges; as, the practice declamation by students. [ 1913 Webster ]

The public listened with little emotion, but with much civility, to five acts of monotonous declamation. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A set or harangue; declamatory discourse. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Pretentious rhetorical display, with more sound than sense; as, mere declamation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ] A declaimer. [ R. ] Sir T. Elyot. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. declamatorius: cf. F. déclamatoire. ] 1. Pertaining to declamation; treated in the manner of a rhetorician; as, a declamatory theme. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Characterized by rhetorical display; pretentiously rhetorical; without solid sense or argument; bombastic; noisy; as, a declamatory way or style. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being declared. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. déclarant, p. pr. of déclarer. ] (Law) One who declares. Abbott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. déclaration, fr. L. declaratio, fr. declarare. See Declare. ] 1. The act of declaring, or publicly announcing; explicit asserting; undisguised token of a ground or side taken on any subject; proclamation; exposition; as, the declaration of an opinion; a declaration of war, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is declared or proclaimed; announcement; distinct statement; formal expression; avowal. [ 1913 Webster ]

Declarations of mercy and love . . . in the Gospel. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The document or instrument containing such statement or proclamation; as, the Declaration of Independence (now preserved in Washington). [ 1913 Webster ]

In 1776 the Americans laid before Europe that noble Declaration, which ought to be hung up in the nursery of every king, and blazoned on the porch of every royal palace. Buckle. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) That part of the process or pleadings in which the plaintiff sets forth in order and at large his cause of complaint; the narration of the plaintiff's case containing the count, or counts. See Count, n., 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

Declaration of Independence. (Amer. Hist.) See Declaration of Independence in the vocabulary. See also under Independence. --
Declaration of rights. (Eng. Hist) See Bill of rights, under Bill. --
Declaration of trust (Law), a paper subscribed by a grantee of property, acknowledging that he holds it in trust for the purposes and upon the terms set forth. Abbott. [ 1913 Webster ]