Rhetoric
Middle English: from Old French rethorique, via Latin from Greek rhētorikē (tekhnē) ‘(art) of rhetoric’, from rhētōr ‘rhetor’.
wiktionary
From Middle English rethorik, from Latin rhētoricus, from Ancient Greek ῥητορῐκός(rhētorikós).
From Middle English rethorik, rhetoric, from Old French rhetorique, from Latin rhētorica, from Ancient Greek ῥητορική(rhētorikḗ), ellipsis of ῥητορικὴ τέχνη(rhētorikḕ tékhnē), from ῥητορικός(rhētorikós, “concerning public speech”), from ῥήτωρ(rhḗtōr, “public speaker”).
etymonline
rhetoric (n.)
early 14c., rethorike, "the art of eloquence and persuasiveness in language, the art of using language to influence others," from Old French retorike, rethorique (Modern French rhétorique) and directly from Latin rhetorice, from Greek rhētorikētekhnē "art of an orator," from rhētōr (genitive rhētoros) "speaker, master speaker, orator; artist of discourse; teacher of rhetoric," especially (in the Attic official language), "orator in public." This is related to rhesis "speech," rhema "word, phrase, verb," literally "that which is spoken" (from PIE *wre-tor-, from root *were- (3) "to speak;" see verb). Since classical times with a derogatory suggestion of "artificial oratory" as opposed to what is natural or unaffected, "ostentatious declamation."
