Antonyms for holding forth

Grammar : Noun, verb

Spell : hohld

Phonetic Transcription : hoʊld

Definition of holding forth

Origin : Old English haldan (Anglian), healdan (West Saxon), "to contain, grasp; retain; foster, cherish," class VII strong verb (past tense heold, past participle healden), from Proto-Germanic *haldanan (cf. Old Saxon haldan, Old Frisian halda, Old Norse halda, Dutch houden, German halten "to hold," Gothic haldan "to tend"), originally "to keep, tend, watch over" (as cattle), later "to have." Ancestral sense is preserved in behold. The original past participle holden was replaced by held beginning 16c., but survives in some legal jargon and in beholden.
Hold back is 1530s, transitive; 1570s, intransitive; hold off is early 15c., transitive; c.1600, intransitive; hold out is 1520s as "to stretch forth," 1580s as "to resist pressure." Hold on is early 13c. as "to maintain one’s course," 1830 as "to keep one’s grip on something," 1846 as an order to wait or stop. To hold (one's) tongue "be silent" is from c.1300. To hold (one's) own is from early 14c. To hold (someone's) hand "give moral support" is from 1935. Phrase hold your horses "be patient" is from 1844. To have and to hold have been paired alliteratively since at least c.1200, originally of marriage but also of real estate.

As in recitation : noun reading to audience
As in lecture : verb give a lesson, speech
As in narrate : verb describe, detail
As in patter : verb gab, chatter
As in recite : verb read out loud; narrate
As in speak : verb address; give a lecture
As in spout : verb talk forcefully
As in talk : verb address group
As in declaim : verb proclaim; get on a soapbox
As in discourse : verb discuss, speak about
As in discuss : verb talk over with another
As in harangue : verb give a long lecture

Example sentences :

But to the point: what was it about that she was holding forth so charmingly—a book or a lover?
Extract from : « Tales And Novels, Volume 5 (of 10) » by Maria Edgeworth

A young French soldier was holding forth when Joan entered the hut.
Extract from : « All Roads Lead to Calvary » by Jerome K. Jerome

Robert Fairchild had reached her and was holding forth his hand.
Extract from : « The Cross-Cut » by Courtney Ryley Cooper

The children are holding forth to their cousins,—teaching them something, evidently.
Extract from : « Deerbrook » by Harriet Martineau

It was a sunny day in a park and Billy Darfield was holding forth.
Extract from : « Alarm Clock » by Everett B. Cole

Mrs. Carew was holding forth to Fanny in the hall as Dick swung past them.
Extract from : « To Love » by Margaret Peterson

Christian men appear as lights by 'holding forth the word of life.'
Extract from : « Expositions of Holy Scripture » by Alexander Maclaren

"I have the king's signet," he said, holding forth the ring.
Extract from : « Windsor Castle » by William Harrison Ainsworth

“Just read that,” said the staff official, holding forth a letter.
Extract from : « Found in the Philippines » by Charles King

Ive heard him holding forth about women and money; his opinions are edifying.
Extract from : « Three Plays by Brieux » by Eugne Brieux

Synonyms for holding forth

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019