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discursive

 - 3 dictionary results

dis⋅cur⋅sive

  [di-skur-siv]
Use discursive in a Sentence
–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
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To discursive
dis·cur·sive   (dĭ-skûr'sĭv)   
adj.  

  1. Covering a wide field of subjects; rambling.

  2. 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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

discursive 
1599, from M.Fr. discursif, from M.L. discursivus, from L. discursus "a running about" (see discourse).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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