Main Entry:

preach

Pronunciation:

\ˈprēch\

Function:

verb

Etymology:

Middle English prechen, from Anglo-French precher, from Late Latin praedicare, from Latin, to proclaim, make known, from prae- pre- + dicare to proclaim — more at diction

Date:

13th century

intransitive verb1: to deliver a sermon2: to urge acceptance or abandonment of an idea or course of action ; specifically : to exhort in an officious or tiresome mannertransitive verb1: to set forth in a sermon <preach the gospel>2: to advocate earnestly <preached revolution>3: to deliver (as a sermon) publicly4: to bring, put, or affect by preaching <preached the…church out of debt — American Guide Series: Virginia>

— preach·er noun

— preach·ing·ly \ˈprē-chiŋ-lē\ adverb