discourse
[ noun dis-kawrs, -kohrs, dis-kawrs, -kohrs; verb dis-kawrs, -kohrs ]
/ noun ˈdɪs kɔrs, -koʊrs, dɪsˈkɔrs, -ˈkoʊrs; verb dɪsˈkɔrs, -ˈkoʊrs /
noun
communication of thought by words; talk; conversation: earnest and intelligent discourse.
a formal discussion of a subject in speech or writing, as a dissertation, treatise, sermon, etc.
Linguistics.
any unit of connected speech or writing longer than a sentence.
verb (used without object), dis·coursed, dis·cours·ing.
to communicate thoughts orally; talk; converse.
to treat of a subject formally in speech or writing.
verb (used with object), dis·coursed, dis·cours·ing.
to utter or give forth (musical sounds).
Origin of discourse
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
SYNONYMS FOR discourse
OTHER WORDS FROM discourse
dis·cours·er, noun pre·dis·course, nounWords nearby discourse
Example sentences from the Web for discourse
British Dictionary definitions for discourse
discourse
noun (ˈdɪskɔːs, dɪsˈkɔːs)
verbal communication; talk; conversation
a formal treatment of a subject in speech or writing, such as a sermon or dissertation
a unit of text used by linguists for the analysis of linguistic phenomena that range over more than one sentence
archaic
the ability to reason or the reasoning process
verb (dɪsˈkɔːs)
Derived forms of discourse
discourser, nounWord Origin for discourse
C14: from Medieval Latin
discursus argument, from Latin: a running to and fro, from
discurrere to run different ways, from
dis-
1 +
currere to run