SERMON

sermon, preaching

(noun) a moralistic rebuke; “your preaching is wasted on him”

sermon, discourse, preaching

(noun) an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service)

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology 1

Noun

sermon (plural sermons)

Religious discourse; a written or spoken address on a religious or moral matter.

A lengthy speech of reproval.

Etymology 2

Verb

sermon (third-person singular simple present sermons, present participle sermoning, simple past and past participle sermoned)

(poetic, obsolete) To discourse to or of, as in a sermon.

(poetic, obsolete) To tutor; to lecture.

Anagrams

• Menors, Merson, merons, moners, mornes, somner

Source: Wiktionary

Ser"mon, n. Etym: [OE. sermoun, sermun, F. sermon, fr. L. sermo, - onis, a speaking, discourse, probably fr. serer, sertum, to join, connect; hence, a connected speech. See Series.]

1. A discourse or address; a talk; a writing; as, the sermens of Chaucer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. Specifically, a discourse delivered in public, usually by a clergyman, for the purpose of religious instruction and grounded on some text or passage of Scripture. This our life exempt from public haunts Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones and good in everything. Shak. His preaching much, but more his practice, wrought, A living sermon of the truths he taught. Dryden.

3. Hence, a serious address; a lecture on one's conduct or duty; an exhortation or reproof; a homily; -- often in a depreciatory sense.

Ser"mon, v. i. Etym: [Cf. OF. sermoner, F. sermonner to lecture one.]

Definition: To speak; to discourse; to compose or deliver a sermon. [Obs.] Holinshed. What needeth it to sermon of it more Chaucer.

Ser"mon, v. t.

1. To discourse to or of, as in a sermon. [Obs.] Spenser.

2. To tutor; to lecture. [Poetic] Shak.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition