discourse
UK /ˈdɪs.kɔːs/ · US /ˈdɪs.kɔːɹs/ noun, verb
Forms discourses discoursing discoursed discours
- noun (uncountable, archaic) Verbal exchange, conversation.
- noun (uncountable) Expression in words, either speech or writing.
- noun (countable) A conversation.
- noun (countable) A formal lengthy exposition of some subject, either spoken or written. “The preacher gave us a long discourse on duty.”
- noun (countable) Any rational expression, reason.
- noun (social sciences, countable) An institutionalized way of thinking, a social boundary defining what can be said about a specific topic (after Michel Foucault).
- noun (Internet, uncountable) Lengthy, often heated debate over controversial subject matter, particularly within fandom and activist spaces. Sometimes rendered as a proper noun with the definite article (i.e. "the Discourse").
- noun (obsolete) Dealing; transaction.
- verb (intransitive) To engage in discussion or conversation; to converse.
- verb (intransitive) To write or speak formally and at length.
- verb (obsolete, transitive) To debate.
- verb To exercise reason; to employ the mind in judging and inferring; to reason.
- verb (obsolete, transitive) To produce or emit (musical sounds).
Synonyms
debate conversation discussion talk communication expression dissertation lecture sermon study treatise ratiocination norm Overton window converse chat common confab confabulate conversate preaching treatment talk about discuss hold forth dissertate
Etymology
From Middle English discours, borrowed from Middle French discours (“conversation, speech”), from Latin discursus (“the act of running about”), from Latin discurrō (“run about”), from dis- (“apart”) + currō (“run”). Spelling modified by influence of Middle French cours (“course”). Doublet of discursus.
Webster’s 1913
- noun 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.
- noun Conversation; talk.
- verb To exercise reason; to employ the mind in judging and inferring; to reason. [Obs.] "Have sense or can discourse." Dryden.
- verb 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.
Etymology [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.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “discourse”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details