Exhortatio

Exhortatio is a Latin noun meaning exhortation, urging, or an exhortative speech. It is a feminine noun, declined as exhortatio, exhortationis, and is derived from the verb exhortare (to exhort), itself built from ex- (out, forth) and hortari (to urge or encourage). The English word exhortation derives from this Latin term and carries a closely related sense of urging someone to action or belief.

In classical rhetoric and literature, exhortatio denotes the portion of discourse whose purpose is to move the audience toward a particular course of action, belief, or virtue. It is associated with appeals to motive, ethics, and emotion, complementing the argumentative and narrative parts of a text. In some rhetorical frameworks, the exhortation is treated as a key phase in persuading listeners or readers to adopt a recommended stance.

In Christian Latin writings, exhortatio is commonly used to describe exhortations in sermons, letters, and homilies—addresses that urge perseverance in faith, moral conduct, and adherence to doctrine. The term thus appears in theological and pastoral contexts as an important mode of instruction and encouragement.

Linguistically, exhortatio illustrates how Latin terms for persuasion are formed and how they gave rise to the modern English word exhortation. It is also related to the broader concept of hortatory or exhortatory language, and to grammars that describe the mood of urging or inviting action.

See also: exhortation; hortatory mood; exhorter.