n. 1. A religious discourse, especially one delivered as part of a service. 2. An often lengthy and tedious speech of reproof or exhortation: "his father's Teutonic and pedestrian sermon on the safety of staying home" (Paul Theroux). [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin sermō, sermōn-, discourse; see ser-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] ser·monic (-mŏnĭk), ser·moni·cal (-ĭ-kəl) adj. |
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