preacher-likeadv.adj.

1867 Brit. Q. Rev. July 108 Many of Keble's poems impress us with the idea of..an audience of whom the writer was conscious, and to whom he, preacher-like, addressed his words.

1874 A. C. Swinburne Bothwell i. iii. 72 Why did you prate so preacher-like with him?

1992 St. Louis (Missouri) Post-Dispatch (Nexis) 25 Aug. 1 b In his speech, Danforth's voice was pitched, preacherlike, to carry in the Astrodome's terrible acoustics.

2004 Richmond (Va.) Times Dispatch (Nexis) 3 Nov. e4 Stipe posed preacherlike with his arms stretched out and giving short, quick nods of encouragement.

1879 Sedalia (Missouri) Daily Democrat 23 Dec. You will have to practice..before you can exchange your humorous and jesting face for a preacher-like, sanctimonious look.

1903 Democrat & Standard (Ohio) 2 June 3 ‘The railroads have been before the senate..praying,’ said Uncle Joe in his preacherlike tones.

1952 PMLA 67 284 The language is reminiscent of the sententiousness of the spurious passage 439 ff. Compare, for example, the wisdom given in 1592 ff., with its almost preacher-like overtones.

2000 Afr. Amer. Rev. 34 635/1 He learns the same bitter truth about his comrades that Wright eventually learns in hearing religion denounced with preacher-like showmanship.