Meanings
plural rhetors
- archaicA rhetorician.
Your hearing , which is mostly the fairest part of you , what is it but as of a rhetor at a desk , to commend or dislike , the same which you have as well for the stage as the pulpit , a plaudit or an hiss
1643, Henry Hammond, Christ and Barabbas (a sermon)1 more example
Schir, ye have mony servitouris, / And officiaris of dyvers curis, / Kirkmen, courtmen, and craftismen fyne, / Doctouris in jure and medicyne, / Divinouris, rethoris, and philosophouris, / Astrologis, artistis, and oratouris, / Men of armes and vailyeand knychtis, / And mony uther gudlie wichtis, / Musicianis, menstralis, and mirrie singaris, / Chevalouris, cawandaris, and flingaris, / Cunyouris, carvouris, and carpentaris, / Beildaris of barkis and ballingaris, / Masounis lyand upon the land, / And schipwrichtis hewand upone the strand, / Glasing wrichtis, goldsmythis, and lapidaris, / Pryntouris, payntouris, and potingaris, / And all of thair craft cunning, / And all at anis lawboring, / Quhilk pleisand ar and honorable, / And to your hienes profitable, / And richt convenient for to be, / With your hie regale majestie, / Deservand of your grace most ding, / Bayth thank, rewarde, and cherissing.
early 16th c., William Dunbar, Remonstrance to the King
Origin
- Ancient Greekῥήτωρ
- Latinrhētor
- Old Frenchretor
- Middle Englishrethor
- Englishrhetor
From Middle English rethor, from Old French retor and Latin rhētor, rētor, rēthor (“teacher of rhetoric, rhetorician”), from Ancient Greek ῥήτωρ (rhḗtōr).
More words from Middle English, Old French, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with rhetor
Anagrams
Cite this entry
rhetor. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rhetor
“rhetor.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rhetor. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “rhetor,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rhetor.
Source: rhetor on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.