(a) A spoken discourse, a particular speech or discussion; also, talk, speech; also, report, rumor; pl. sayings, words; maken (seien) a ~, to make a speech; (b) a long ~, a long discourse, long account; withouten (ani) more ~, without more words, without further delay; maken a long ~, maken (seien) long ~, maken (holden) longer ~, to speak at (greater) length; holden no ~, intend not to speak at length; leven ~, cease discussion [some quots. in 1.(b) in which the narrator of a written work addresses an audience could belong to 3.(a) but are better thought of as examples of oral presentation]; (c) the speech or revelation of God to his people; the word of God; (d) style of writing or speaking, mode of expression, diction.

(a) A public religious discourse, a sermon; ~ prechinge; at sermounes, at church; in ~ time, during a sermon; maken (seien) ~; (b) a particular sermon or discourse delivered by John the Baptist, Christ, or an apostle; receiven ~, to be converted by attending a sermon; (c) the speech or preaching of John the Baptist, Christ, or an apostle; maken ~, to preach.

(a) A written work, esp. a part of the Scriptures or a work composed by a saint; a written treatise, an account, a poem; a written sermon or religious tract; (b) a section of a written work devoted to a particular subject; ~ universel, commune (universel) ~, a general discussion of a subject, an overview.

A language, tongue.