sermonize

verb

Etymology: Etymology tree English sermon Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English sermonize From sermon + -ize.

1. To speak in the manner of a sermon; to preach; to propagate one's morality or opinions with speech.

   “And doe not our Prelates thus, when […] they disgrace and traduce Preaching, calling it in scorne, Sermonizing?”

   “Don’t be alarmed, I am not going to sermonize—but what is almost as dull, to narrate.”

2. To preach a sermon to (somebody); to give (somebody) instruction or admonishment on the basis of one's morality or opinions.

   “He wishes, I suppose, to sermonize me: but I shall not give him an opportunity—”

   ““[…] we sermonised her on the presumption of attempting to teach such clever blades as we were, when she was herself so ignorant.””

3. To say in the manner of a sermon or lecture.

   ““Children, children! Woe, how you do sin!” Mrs. Kavarsky sermonized. “Come now, obey an older person […]””

   “1917, George Creel (uncredited author) and Douglas Fairbanks, Laugh and Live, New York: Britton, Chapter 17, p. 144, Then as one man they jumped to their feet and by reason of prolonged cheering gave national impulse to a thought which has since been sermonized from thousands of pulpits.”

4. To inculcate rigid rules.

   “If you consider my letters in their true light as conveying to you the advice of a Friend, who sincerely wishes you happiness, and desires to promote your pleasures, you will both read and attend them; but, if you consider them in their opposite, and very false light, as the dictates of a morose and sermonizing Father, I am sure they will be not only unattended to, but unread.”