| / English Dictionary |
SERMON
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A moralistic rebuke
Example:
your preaching is wasted on him
Synonyms:
preaching; sermon
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("sermon" is a kind of...):
lecture; speech; talking to (a lengthy rebuke)
Derivation:
sermonise; sermonize (speak as if delivering a sermon; express moral judgements)
Sense 2
Meaning:
An address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service)
Synonyms:
discourse; preaching; sermon
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("sermon" is a kind of...):
address; speech (the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience)
Domain category:
church; church service (a service conducted in a house of worship)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sermon"):
baccalaureate (a farewell sermon to a graduating class at their commencement ceremonies)
kerugma; kerygma (preaching the gospel of Christ in the manner of the early church)
evangelism (zealous preaching and advocacy of the gospel)
homily; preachment (a sermon on a moral or religious topic)
Instance hyponyms:
Sermon on the Mount (the first major discourse delivered by Jesus (Matthew 5-7 and Luke 6:20-49))
Derivation:
sermonise; sermonize (speak as if delivering a sermon; express moral judgements)
Context examples:
St. John said these words as he pronounced his sermons, with a quiet, deep voice; with an unflushed cheek, and a coruscating radiance of glance.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
And there was my aunt, all the time I was dressing, preaching and talking away just as if she was reading a sermon.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
And I have the document, Mr. Micawber read again, looking about as if it were the text of a sermon, in my possession,—that is to say, I had, early this morning, when this was written, but have since relinquished it to Mr. Traddles.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
A sermon, good in itself, is no rare thing.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
Many wise and true sermons are preached us every day by unconscious ministers in street, school, office, or home.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
The remedy was, to thrust them forward into the centre of the schoolroom, and oblige them to stand there till the sermon was finished.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
He must write his own sermons; and the time that remains will not be too much for his parish duties, and the care and improvement of his dwelling, which he cannot be excused from making as comfortable as possible.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
A thoroughly good sermon, thoroughly well delivered, is a capital gratification.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
Seeing this did more for Jo than the wisest sermons, the saintliest hymns, the most fervent prayers that any voice could utter.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
The Sunday evening was spent in repeating, by heart, the Church Catechism, and the fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters of St. Matthew; and in listening to a long sermon, read by Miss Miller, whose irrepressible yawns attested her weariness.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
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