discourse definition | Dictionary.com

dis⋅course

[n. dis-kawrs, -kohrs, dis-kawrs, -kohrs; v. dis-kawrs, -kohrs]

noun, verb, -coursed, -cours⋅ing.

–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.

–verb (used with object)

6.	to utter or give forth (musical sounds).

Origin:
1325–75; ME discours < ML discursus (sp. by influence of ME cours course), LL: conversation, L: a running to and fro, equiv. 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

Synonyms:
1. discussion, colloquy, dialogue, chat, parley.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

Link To discourse

dis·course (dĭs'kôrs', -kōrs')

Verbal expression in speech or writing.
Verbal exchange; conversation.
A formal, lengthy discussion of a subject, either written or spoken.
Archaic The process or power of reasoning.

v. (dĭ-skôrs', -skōrs') dis·coursed, dis·cours·ing, dis·cours·es

v. intr.

To speak or write formally and at length. See Synonyms at speak.
To engage in conversation or discussion; converse.

v. tr. Archaic
To narrate or discuss.

[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.]
dis·cours'er n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Discourse

Dis*course"\, n. [L. discursus a running to and fro, discourse, fr. discurrere, discursum, to run to and fro, to discourse; dis- + currere to run: cf. F. discours. See Course.]

1. The power of the mind to reason or infer by running, as it were, from one fact or reason to another, and deriving a conclusion; an exercise or act of this power; reasoning; range of reasoning faculty. [Obs.]

Difficult, strange, and harsh to the discourses of natural reason. --South.

Sure he that made us with such large discourse, Looking before and after, gave us not That capability and godlike reason To fust in us unused. --Shak.

2. Conversation; talk.

In their discourses after supper. --Shak.

Filling the head with variety of thoughts, and the mouth with copious discourse. --Locke.

3. The art and manner of speaking and conversing.

Of excellent breeding, admirable discourse. --Shak.

4. Consecutive speech, either written or unwritten, on a given line of thought; speech; treatise; dissertation; sermon, etc.; as, the preacher gave us a long discourse on duty.

5. Dealing; transaction. [Obs.]

Good Captain Bessus, tell us the discourse Betwixt Tigranes and our king, and how We got the victory. --Beau. & Fl.

Discourse

Dis*course"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Discoursed; p. pr. & vb. n. Discoursing.]

1. To exercise reason; to employ the mind in judging and inferring; to reason. [Obs.] "Have sense or can discourse." --Dryden.

2. To express one's self in oral discourse; to expose one's views; to talk in a continuous or formal manner; to hold forth; to speak; to converse.

Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear. --Shak.

3. To relate something; to tell. --Shak.

4. To treat of something in writing and formally.

Discourse

Dis*course"\, v. t. 1. To treat of; to expose or set forth in language. [Obs.]

The life of William Tyndale . . . is sufficiently and at large discoursed in the book. --Foxe.

2. To utter or give forth; to speak.

It will discourse most eloquent music. --Shak.

3. To talk to; to confer with. [Obs.]

I have spoken to my brother, who is the patron, to discourse the minister about it. --Evelyn.

discourse

c.1374, 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 1581.

Search another word or see discourse on Thesaurus | Reference

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Advertise with Us · Link to Us · NASCAR® · Contact Us