preaching
    n 1: an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during
         a church service) [syn: sermon, discourse, preaching]
    2: a moralistic rebuke; "your preaching is wasted on him" [syn:
       sermon, preaching]

Preach \Preach\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Preached; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Preaching.] [OE. prechen, OF. preechier, F. pr[^e]cher, fr.
   L. praedicare to cry in public, to proclaim; prae before +
   dicare to make known, dicere to say; or perhaps from
   (assumed) LL. praedictare. See Diction, and cf.
   Predicate, Predict.]
   1. To proclaim or publish tidings; specifically, to proclaim
      the gospel; to discourse publicly on a religious subject,
      or from a text of Scripture; to deliver a sermon.
      [1913 Webster]

            How shall they preach, except they be sent? --Rom.
                                                  x. 15.
      [1913 Webster]

            From that time Jesus began to preach. --Matt. iv.
                                                  17.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To give serious advice on morals or religion; to discourse
      in the manner of a preacher.
      [1913 Webster]

Preaching \Preach"ing\ (pr[=e]ch"[i^]ng), n.
   The act of delivering a religious discourse; the art of
   sermonizing; also, a sermon; a public religious discourse;
   serious, earnest advice. --Milner.
   [1913 Webster]

   Preaching cross, a cross, sometimes surmounting a pulpit,
      erected out of doors to designate a preaching place.

   Preaching friars. See Dominican.
      [1913 Webster]