fair speakern.
/ˌfɛː ˈspiːkə/, U.S. /ˌfɛ(ə)r ˈspikər/ Now rare.
An eloquent person, an orator. Also: a person whose words are specious or insincere, a flatterer.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > speech-making > [noun] > one who makes a speech or speeches
ditera1387
fair speakera1398
speakerc1400
pronouncer?a1425
orator?a1439
oratrice1565
oratress1587
rhetor1588
oratrix?1592
tongue-man1594
tonguesman1596
public speaker1646
holder-forth1661
tub-minister1662
spokesman1663
addresser1665
tub-drubbera1704
speech-maker1710
speecher1762
orationer1765
speechifiera1777
mob-orator1814
perorator1827
elocutionist1847
tub-orator1849
spokester1850
patterer1851
platformer1851
oratist1860
stem-winder1875
addressor1897
pep talker1925
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xv. lxviii. 764 Men þerof [sc. Grecia] were..fayre and moost grete spekers.
1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope vii. f. cxxvijv This fable of a rethoryque man or fayr speker.
1485 Malory's Morte Darthur (Caxton) x. xv. sig. Bijv For he was a fayre speker and fals there vnder.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 17 A fayre speaker, and a deepe dissembler.
a1631 J. Donne Wks. (1839) I. 307 If I believe a fair speaker, I have comfort a little while, though he deceive me.
1644 J. Bulwer Chironomia 15 in Chirologia He who customarily useth much action of his Hand, in his talke, is a faire speaker, and neat in his language.
1727 Coll. Misc. Lett. Mist's Weekly Jrnl. III. xxxvii. 182 A..Reproach, from a Subject to his Prince, for suffering himself to be cheated by these fair Speakers.
1855 M. Yvan Six Months among Malays vii. 288 I could almost have fancied myself transported into a legal court of fair speakers, so inspiring was the theme.
1897 D. Nicoll Commonweal 12 He was a fair speaker, and most of his influence was due to this circumstance.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.a1398