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 verb 1 : to deliver a sermon
2 : to urge acceptance or abandonment of an idea or course of action; specifically : to exhort in an officious or tiresome mannertransitive verb 1 : to set forth in a sermon <preach the gospel>
2 : to advocate earnestly <preached revolution>
3 : to deliver (as a sermon) publicly
4 : 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