A philosophical or political discourse resembling the style and gravity of arguments presented before the ancient Areopagus, particularly Milton's famous 1644 defense of free speech.
From Latin feminine form of 'areopagiticus.' Milton's 'Areopagitica' (1644) is the most famous example, modeled on Isocrates' classical oration to the Areopagus.
Milton's 'Areopagitica' is one of history's greatest defenses of free speech—he chose this title to invoke the authority of ancient Athens's wisest judges, making his plea for open debate feel almost sacred!
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