speech

English

/ˈspiːtʃ/

noun
Definitions
  • (uncountable) The faculty of uttering articulate sounds or words; the ability to speak or to use vocalizations to communicate.
  • (countable) A session of speaking, especially a long oral message given publicly by one person.
  • A style of speaking.
  • (grammar) Speech reported in writing; see direct speech (direct speech), reported speech (reported speech)
  • A dialect or language.
  • Talk; mention; rumour.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English speche inherited from Old English spǣċ inherited from Proto-Germanic *sprēkijō (speaking, language, speech) derived from Proto-Indo-European *spereg-.

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*spereg-

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms