RHET'ORIC, noun [Gr. from to speak, to flow. Eng. to read. The primary sense is to drive or send. See Read.] 1. The art of speaking with propriety, elegance and force. 2. The power of persuasion or attraction; that which allures or charms. We speak of the rhetoric of the tongue, and the rhetoric of the heart or eyes. Sweet silent rhetoric of persuading eyes.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI