Nearby Words
dis·course
[n. dis-kawrs, -kohrs, dis-kawrs, -kohrs; v. dis-kawrs, -kohrs] noun, verb, -coursed, -cours·ing. 
kɔrsnoun
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.
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Discourse
is a TOEFL word you need to know.
So is promontory. Does it mean:
| dark, gloomy, and cheerless |
| high point of land or rock projecting into the sea beyond the line of coast |
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. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To discourse
Example Sentences
- It's hard to imagine the Web without uncivil discourse, so professors may just have to have thick skin.
- The Internet hasn't so much killed rhetoric as amplify the lack of rhetoric that has always been a part of common discourse.
- Martini men know that the martini can be an ideal introduction to rational discourse among family and friends.
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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