ˈrhetorize, v. ? Obs.
[ad. late L. rhētorizāre (Bede), a. Gr. ῥητορίζειν, f. ῥήτορ-, ῥήτωρ rhetor: see -ize.]
intr. To use rhetorical language.
| 1608 Hieron Defence iii. 65 The Ancient Fathers have..ben pleased thus to rhetorise, in commendation of the Sacrament. 1611 Cotgr., Rhetoriquer, to rhetorize it, play the Rhetorician. 1624 Bp. R. Montagu Immed. Addr. 206 Gregory Nazianzen hath taught Saint Hierome also how to Rhetorize. 1834 Southey Doctor xlvi. (1848) 108 After having rhetorised in praise of sacred music. 1841 Tait's Mag. VIII. 484 There is another [kind of art] which, by..rhetorizing, assumes to itself the false importance of an end. |
Hence † ˈrhetorized ppl. a., addressed rhetorically.
| 1642 Milton Apol. Smect. 8 To write a Letter to a prosopopæa, a certain rhetoriz'd woman whom he calls mother. |