Also 5 voce-, 5–6 vocyferacion, 6 -cyon, 6 vociferacion. [a. OF. vociferacion (mod.F. vociférations pl., = Sp. vociferacion, Pg. -ação, It. -azione), or ad. L. vōciferātiōn-, vōciferātio, noun of action f. vōciferārī: see prec. and -ATION.]
1. An act or instance of loud speaking or shouting; a clamor or outcry.
c. 1400. Sc. Trojan War, II. 145. Þe vocyferacions Of the gret glawmours & þe sownes War herd in entring of þe place.
1541. R. Copland, Galyen’s Terap., 2 C ij. Ye ought to haue cure of all the body in strengthyng it with dyuers exercytacyons, testynges, and vociferacions.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 619. Howbeit, in this exercise we must beware of over-loud vociferations and clamours.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 54, ¶ 5. When our young Heralds are exercis’d in the Faculties of making Proclamation, and other Vociferations.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 18, ¶ 4. I can hear the vociferations of either sex without catching any of the fire from those that utter them.
1837. Ht. Martineau, Soc. Amer., II. 167. How mean and trivial are the vociferations in defence of property.
1865. Livingstone, Zambesi, xxvii. 550. Without paying any attention to his vociferations we went on.
2. The action of vociferating; the utterance of loud outcries or shouts; loud and vehement exercise of the voice.
1528. Roy, Rede me (Arb.), 43. With terrible vociferacion They made wonderfull exclamacion The worde of god to subverte.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Rich. III., 29 b. The people … woulde openly crye and make vocyferacion that God dyd take vengeance.
1590. Barrough, Meth. Physick, III. xxviii. (1639), 148. It is manifest that vociferation and crying out … doth greatly helpe in this evill.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet., 188. Such exercises as gently dilate and extend the Breast, as shooting, vociferation, commotion of the Arms.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 407, ¶ 2. Violent Gesture and Vociferation naturally shake the Hearts of the Ignorant.
1753. Hanway, Trav., VII. lxxxvi. (1762), I. 400. They modulate their voices to a tone consistent with pious thoughts, without that extravagant vociferation practised in some churches.
1820. Scott, Lett., in Lockhart (1837), IV. xi. 368. The whole mob of the Middlesex blackguards … almost drive me mad with their noise and vociferation.
1862. Borrow, Wild Wales, iv, There was plenty of vociferation, but not one single burst of eloquence.
1867. Lady Herbert, Cradle L., ii. 58. That wounderfully busy scene of embarkation and disembarkation, and of noisy Arab vociferation.
b. Const. of (the words uttered).
1780. Johnson, in Boswell (1904), II. 325. Having after some confused vociferation of ‘Hear him—hear him!’ obtained a silent attention.
