Preach | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Prēach, v. i.

verbintransitive

(preech), v. i. [imp. & p. p. PREACHED (precht); p. pr. & vb. n. PREACHING.] [O. Fr. precher, prechier, preescher, preecer, N. Fr. prêcher, Pr. & Sp. predicar, Pg. prēgar, It. predicare, from Lat. prædicare, to cry in public, to proclaim, fr. præ, before, and dicare, to make known, dicere, to say; A-S. predician, D. prediken, preken, Dan. prædike, Sw. predika, Ger. predigen.] 1. To pronounce a public discourse on a religious subject, or from a text of Scripture; to deliver a sermon.

From that time Jesus began to preach. Matt. iv. 17.

Sense 2. To give earnest advice on moral or religious grounds; to discourse in the manner of a preacher.

Prēach, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. 1. To proclaim or publish in religious discourses; to utter in a sermon or a formal religious harangue. The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek. Is. lxi. 1. 2. To inculcate in public discourse; to speak in favor of; to support by public teaching. He oft to them preached Conversion and repentance. Milton.

To deliver or pronounce; as, to preach a sermon.
To teach or instruct by preaching; to inform by preaching. [Rare.]

The Spirits of the Dead, Quitting their mortal mansion, enter not, As ye are preached, their final seat Of bliss, or bale. Southey. To preach up, to discourse in favor of. Can they preach up equality of birth? Dryden.

Prēach, n.

noun

n. [Fr. prêche, from prêcher. See supra.] A religious discourse. [Obs.] “To term religion, in that sort exercised, a mere preach.” Hooker.