Discursive - Definitions from Dictionary.com

5 results for: Discursive

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

dis·cur·sive

Audio Help [di-skur-siv] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

1.	passing aimlessly from one subject to another; digressive; rambling.

2.	proceeding by reasoning or argument rather than intuition.

[Origin: 1590–1600; < ML discursīvus. See discourse, -ive

]

—Related forms

dis·cur·sive·ly, adverb

dis·cur·sive·ness, noun

—Synonyms 1. wandering, long-winded, prolix.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Discursive

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

dis·cur·sive Audio Help (dĭ-skûr'sĭv) Pronunciation Key
adj.

Covering a wide field of subjects; rambling.
Proceeding to a conclusion through reason rather than intuition.

[Medieval Latin discursīvus, from Latin discursus, running about; see discourse.]

dis·cur'sive·ly adv., dis·cur'sive·ness n.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
discursive

1599, from M.Fr. discursif, from M.L. discursivus, from L. discursus "a running about" (see discourse).

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

discursive
adjective
1.	proceeding to a conclusion by reason or argument rather than intuition [syn: dianoetic]
2.	(of e.g. speech and writing) tending to depart from the main point or cover a wide range of subjects; "amusingly digressive with satirical thrusts at women's fashions among other things"; "a rambling discursive book"; "his excursive remarks"; "a rambling speech about this and that" [syn: digressive]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Discursive

Dis*cours"ive\, a. [See Discursive.]

1. Reasoning; characterized by reasoning; passing from premises to consequences; discursive. --Milton.

2. Containing dialogue or conversation; interlocutory.

The epic is everywhere interlaced with dialogue or discoursive scenes. --Dryden.

3. Inclined to converse; conversable; communicative; as, a discoursive man. [R.]

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