digression
UK /dʌɪˈɡɹɛʃən/ · US /daɪˈɡɹɛʃən/ noun
Forms digressions degression disgression
- noun An aside, an act of straying from the main subject in speech or writing. “The lectures included lengthy digressions on topics ranging from the professor's dog to the meaning of life.”
- noun (generally uncountable) The act of straying from the main subject in speech or writing, (rhetoric) particularly for rhetorical effect.
- noun (obsolete) A deviancy, a sin or error, an act of straying from the path of righteousness or a general rule.
- noun (now rare) A deviation, an act of straying from a path.
- noun (astronomy, physics) An elongation, a deflection or deviation from a mean position or expected path.
Synonyms
digressio ecbole aside excursus divagation parenthesis diversion deviation deflection deflexion excursion
Etymology
From Old French digressiun or disgressiun, from Latin dīgressiōnem, from dīgressus + -iō (suffix forming abstract nouns from verbs), the past passive participle of dīgredior (“to step away, to digress”), from dis- + gradior (“to step, walk, go”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun The act of digressing or deviating, esp. from the main subject of a discourse; hence, a part of a discourse deviating from its main design or subject.
- noun A turning aside from the right path; transgression; offense. [R.]
Etymology [L. digressio: cf. F. digression.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “digression”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details