Definition of "harangue"

The king addresses his people, and the heaviest impost is levied with acclamations—the general harangues his troops, and thousands rush upon the smoking cannon and the gleaming bayonets—the lover whispers his mistress, and she forgets even herself for his sake.

1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XXIV, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), page 203

But he continued his harangue without waiting for a reply.

1895 October, Stephen Crane, chapter X, in The Red Badge of Courage: An Episode of the American Civil War, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, page 103

He has vamp'd an old speech, and the court to their sorrow, / Shall hear him harangue against Prior to morrow.

1711, Jonathan Swift, An Excellent New Song

This picture of her consequence had some effect, for no one loved better to lead than Maria;—and with far more good humour she answered, "I am much obliged to you, Edmund;—you mean very well, I am sure—but I still think you see things too strongly; and I really cannot undertake to harangue all the rest upon a subject of this kind.—There would be the greatest indecorum I think."

1814 July, [Jane Austen], chapter XV, in Mansfield Park: […], volume I, London: […] T[homas] Egerton, […], page 293

It's a tradition that when you harangue the multitudes, you stand on a soapbox.

1993 July 7, Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes (comic)