direct discourse

[ dih-rekt-dis-kawrs, dahy- ]
See synonyms for direct discourse on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a representation of speech in which the speaker's exact words are repeated, as in She said, “I'm not at all hungry.”

Origin of direct discourse

1
First recorded in 1845–50
  • Also called di·rect speech [dih-rekt-speech, dahy-] /dɪˈrɛkt ˈspitʃ, daɪ-/ .

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use direct discourse in a sentence

  • The great difficulty of getting uneducated people to give their testimony in direct discourse is remarkable.

    Criminal Psychology | Hans Gross
  • Above vsum (esse) represents vsus est of the direct discourse.

    Selections from Viri Romae | Charles Franois L'Homond
  • In the preceding exercise we saw different forms of direct quotations, or direct discourse.

    Business English | Rose Buhlig
  • direct discourse is more emphatic when it is separated from explanatory phrases, particularly from those which follow.

  • direct discourse is used in the telling, and an effort is made to develop simple and vivid mental pictures.

    The Dramatization of Bible Stories | Elizabeth Erwin Miller Lobingier