panegyric
UK: ˌpanɪˈdʒɪrɪk | US: ˌpænəˈdʒɪrɪk
n. a formal public speech or written work praising someone or something; elaborate commendation.
panegyric = pan<all> + egyr<assembly> + ic<adjective suffix>
- pan (from Greek pan, meaning "all")
- egyr (from Greek aguris, meaning "assembly" or "gathering," derived from ageirein, "to gather")
- ic (adjective-forming suffix, from Latin -icus and Greek -ikos)
Etymology Origin:
The word panegyric originates from Greek panēgyrikos, meaning "of or for a public assembly." It combines pan ("all") and ēgyris ("assembly"), referring to speeches delivered at festivals or gatherings. Over time, it evolved to denote formal praise, especially in rhetoric. The term reflects the ancient tradition of celebrating communal events with oratory, later narrowing to focus on laudatory content.
The professor delivered a panegyric on the poet’s contributions to modern literature.
His memoir reads like a panegyric to his childhood mentor.
The award ceremony included a panegyric highlighting the scientist’s breakthroughs.
Critics dismissed the biography as a mere panegyric, lacking objectivity.
Ancient Roman leaders often commissioned panegyrics to bolster their public image.