discourse

[ noun dis-kawrs, -kohrs, dis-kawrs, -kohrs; verb dis-kawrs, -kohrs ]

noun

1. communication of thought by words; talk; conversation:

   earnest and intelligent discourse.

   Synonyms: parley, chat, dialogue, colloquy, discussion

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)

, dis·coursed, dis·cours·ing.

1. to communicate thoughts orally; talk; converse.
2. to treat of a subject formally in speech or writing.

verb (used with object)

, dis·coursed, dis·cours·ing.

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

discourse

noun

1. verbal communication; talk; conversation
2. a formal treatment of a subject in speech or writing, such as a sermon or dissertation
3. a unit of text used by linguists for the analysis of linguistic phenomena that range over more than one sentence
4. archaic.
   the ability to reason or the reasoning process

verb

1. intr; often foll by on or upon to speak or write (about) formally and extensively
2. intr to hold a discussion
3. archaic.
   tr to give forth (music)

Derived Forms

• disˈcourser, noun

Other Words From

• dis·courser noun
• pre·discourse noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of discourse¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English discours, from Medieval Latin discursus (spelling by influence of Middle English cours “course”), Late Latin: “conversation,” Latin: “a run back and forth,” noun use of past participle of discurrere “to run about,” from dis- dis- ¹ + currere “to run”

Word History and Origins

Origin of discourse¹

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

Example Sentences

In a great year for religious horror — “Immaculate” and ”The First Omen” expanded the nunsploitation subgenre — “Heretic” turned probing discourse into existential menace.

From Los Angeles Times

“At the very least, this calls into question whether there’s actually a growing sense of fatalism among Americans, despite the online discourse and concern around doom-and-gloom messaging.”

From Salon

Cody writes that Alanis was “always open” to poking gentle fun at the song and “there is such a discourse around the inaccuracy of that song.”

From Salon

After letting these companies distort our political discourse for the third presidential election cycle in a row and poisoning ourselves, our children, and our neighbors for profit, Americans are ready to say: enough.

From Salon

She said the bill would be an “absolutely mammoth change” and would be done “without the proper scrutiny and the proper time to have a proper discourse about it”.

From BBC

Related Words

• communication
• conversation
• discussion
• essay
• lecture
• monologue
• rhetoric
• speech
• treatise