discourse
Use Discourse in a sentence
dis·course
[n. dis-kawrs, -kohrs, dis-kawrs, -kohrs; v. dis-kawrs, -kohrs] noun, verb, dis·coursed, dis·cours·ing. 
kɔrs, -koʊrs, dɪsˈkɔrs, -ˈkoʊrs; noun
1.
communication of thought by words; talk; conversation: earnest and intelligent discourse.
2.
a formal discussion of a subject in speech or writing, as a dissertation, treatise, sermon, etc.
3.
Linguistics. any unit of connected speech or writing longer than a sentence.
verb (used without object)
4.
to communicate thoughts orally; talk; converse.
5.
to treat of a subject formally in speech or writing.
00:10
Discourse
is a TOEFL word you need to know.
So is dictum. Does it mean:
| to bring into existence; give rise to or cause |
| an authoritative pronouncement; judicial assertion. |
verb (used with object)
6.
to utter or give forth (musical sounds).
Origin:
1325–75; Middle English discours < Medieval Latin discursus (spelling by influence of Middle English cours course), Late Latin: conversation, Latin: a running to and fro, equivalent to discur(rere) to run about (dis- dis-1 + currere to run) + -sus for -tus suffix of v. action
1325–75; Middle English discours < Medieval Latin discursus (spelling by influence of Middle English cours course), Late Latin: conversation, Latin: a running to and fro, equivalent to discur(rere) to run about (dis- dis-1 + currere to run) + -sus for -tus suffix of v. action
Related forms
dis·cours·er, noun
pre·dis·course, noun
Synonyms
1. discussion, colloquy, dialogue, chat, parley.
1. discussion, colloquy, dialogue, chat, parley.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To Discourse
Collins
World English Dictionary
| discourse | |
| —n | |
| 1. | verbal communication; talk; conversation |
| 2. | a formal treatment of a subject in speech or writing, such as a sermon or dissertation |
| 3. | a unit of text used by linguists for the analysis of linguistic phenomena that range over more than one sentence |
| 4. | archaic the ability to reason or the reasoning process |
| —vb | |
| 5. | (intr; |
| 6. | (intr) to hold a discussion |
| 7. | archaic (tr) to give forth (music) |
| [C14: from Medieval Latin discursus argument, from Latin: a running to and fro, from discurrere to run different ways, from | |
| dis'courser | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
discourse
late 14c., alteration of L. discursus "a running about," in L.L. "conversation," from stem of discurrere "run about," from dis- "apart" + currere "to run." Sense of "formal speech or writing" is first recorded 1580s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
The primary races have left us with a degraded political discourse.
But there are people who manage to weave their way between the two levels of discourse with no loss of integrity.
It's seldom a good idea to think of cable news programming as a gauge of anything other than the decline of civic discourse.
Not surprisingly, something so challenging and so beyond our experience opened up all kinds of unusual avenues of discourse.
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