preach
UK: priːtʃ | US: priːtʃ
vt./vi. to deliver a religious or moral message publicly
vt./vi. to advocate or urge acceptance of an idea or course of action
n. (archaic) a sermon or religious discourse
The word "preach" originates from Old French prechier (to proclaim), derived from Latin praedicare ("to declare publicly"). The Latin breaks into prae- (before) + dicare (to proclaim), reflecting the act of speaking forth authoritatively. Over time, the term narrowed to specifically religious contexts in English, retaining its core idea of public moral instruction.
The priest preached about compassion during Sunday service.
She preaches sustainability in every business meeting.
His actions preach louder than his words.
(Archaic) The preach moved the congregation to tears.
Stop preaching—just let me make my own decisions.