[ad. L. ēnuntiātiōn-em, n. of action f. ēnuntiāre: see prec. Cf. Fr. énonciation.] The action of enuntiating.
1. The action of giving definite expression to (a law, principle, etc.).
1808. Med. Jrnl., XIX. 482. Enunciation of the Principle, and Observations respecting it.
1830. Sir J. Herschel, Stud. Nat. Phil., 95. The most extensive and general enunciation of the laws of nature.
1873. J. Cooke, New Chem., 13. This word … selected by Avogadro in the enunciation of his law.
† b. concr. A proposition, statement. Obs.
1628. T. Spencer, Logick, 222. A compound axiome, is but one proposition, or enuntiation, as Aristotle calls it.
1637. Gillespie, Eng.-Pop. Cerem., IV. vii. 32. Christ … used no prayer in the distribution, but that demonstrative enunciation, This is my body.
1717. S. Clarke, Mr. Leibnitz’s 5th Paper, 277 (R.). Every intelligible Enunciation must be either true, or false.
1765. Warburton, Div. Legat. (ed. 4), VI. § 4. V. 194, note. And verifies the enunciation of the gospel.
c. Math. The form of words in which a proposition is stated.
1793. T. Beddoes, Math. Evid., 50. The enunciation of proposition the 29th.
1885. Leudesdorf, Cremona’s Proj. Geom., 99. These are precisely the two directly equal pencils mentioned in the enunciation.
2. † a. ? Verbal expression (quot. 1551). b. The action of declaring or asserting (a fact, doctrine, etc.); formal declaration or assertion.
1551. Gardiner, Of The Presence in Sacrament, 41 a. The callyng of bread by enunciation, for a name is not material.
1651. Jer. Taylor, Clerus Dom., 44 (R.). By way of interpretation and enunciation, as an Embassador.
1827. Bentham, Ration. Evid., Wks. 1843, VII. 81. The proposition in question … is not, properly speaking, the enunciation of a matter of fact.
1844. Lever, T. Burke, xviii. He never missed an opportunity for the enunciation of such doctrines.
3. The uttering or pronouncing of articulate sounds; manner of utterance.
1750. Chesterf., Lett., 9 July (1870), 179. Remember of what importance Demosthenes, and one of the Gracchi, thought enunciation.
1812. Examiner, 8 Nov., 716/1. His enunciation is perfectly articulate.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, xi. 129. He mocked at his bad enunciation and bad grammar.
