orator †advocate XIV; †petitioner; (eloquent) public speaker XV; as a university official XVII. — AN. oratour = (O)F. orateur — L. ōrātor, -ōr- speaker, pleader, f. pp. stem of ōrāre, whence (or in part back-formation) orate †plead XVI; deliver a speech XVIII; see -ATE3, -ATOR.
So oration †petition XIV; formal speech XVI. — L. ōrātiō, -ōn- formal language, discourse, advocate's speech, (eccl.) prayer.

or·a·tor / ˈôrətər; ˈär-/ • n. a public speaker, esp. one who is eloquent or skilled.DERIVATIVES: or·a·to·ri·al / ˌôrəˈtôrēəl/ adj.