discourse

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Definitions (29)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (7)

  1. noun Verbal expression in speech or writing.
  2. noun Verbal exchange; conversation.
  3. noun A formal, lengthy discussion of a subject, either written or spoken.
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Examples

  • The text for this discourse was the report of a sermon by Canon Liddon, in which that eminent preacher spoke of catastrophes as the antithesis of physical law, yet possible inasmuch as a "lower law" may be "suspended" by the "intervention of a higher," a mode of reasoning which he applied to the possibility of miracles such as that of Cana. —  The Life and Letters of Thomas Henry Huxley
  • Not being able to determine whether my discourse was agreeable or displeasing, I was ever in fear, and thought less of expressing my ideas, than of being careful not to say anything that might seem to my disadvantage. —  The Confessions of J J Rousseau
  • Most of our discourse is about our keeping a coach the next year, which pleases my wife mightily; and if I continue as able as now, it will save us money. —  The Diary of Samuel Pepys, August 1667
  • Here we sat and eat and talked and of some matters of the office, but his discourse is as yet but weak in that matter, and no wonder, he being new in it, but I fear he will not go about understanding with the impatience that Sir W. Coventry did. —  Diary of Samuel Pepys, September 1667
  • Being mightily satisfied with his civility, I away to Westminster Hall, and there walked with several people, and all the discourse is about some trouble in Scotland I heard of yesterday, but nobody can tell the truth of it. —  The Diary of Samuel Pepys, November 1666
 

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Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Allen's Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

Used in the same context Used in the Same Context

sermon ·  conversation ·  speech ·  essay ·  narrative ·  poem ·  writing ·  debate ·  argument ·  lecture ·  inquiry ·  explanation
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (3)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English discours, process of reasoning, from Medieval Latin discursus, from Latin, a running about, from past participle of discurrere, to run about : dis-, apart; see dis- + currere, to run; see kers- in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (2)

  1. from Middle English discourse = D. G. discours = Danish Swedish diskurs, from Old French discours, French discours = Spanish Portuguese discurso = Italian discorso, discourse, from Latin discursus, a running to and fro, a running about, a pace, gait, Late Latin a discourse, conversation, Middle Latin also reasoning, the reasoning faculty, from discurrere, past participle discursus, run to and fro, run through or over, hasten, Late Latin go over a subject, speak at length of, discourse of (later Italian discorrere = Spanish discurrir = Portuguese discorrer = French discourir, discourse), from dis-, away, in different directions, + currere, run: see current, and cf. course, concourse. Hence discursive, etc.
  2. from discourse, n.
 

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/dɪsˈkoʊrs/
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