indirect discourse

[ in-di-rekt dis-kawrs ]

noun

1. the reporting of what a speaker said consisting not of the speaker's exact words but of a version transformed for grammatical inclusion in a larger sentence, as in She said she was not at all hungry.

Word History and Origins

Origin of indirect discourse¹

First recorded in 1845–50

Example Sentences

The subjunctive is due to the implied indirect discourse, and expresses the thought, not of the writer, but of Mettius subjects.

From Project Gutenberg

Indirect discourse means reported speech,—the thoughts of a writer or speaker put in the words of the one reporting them.

From Project Gutenberg

From these illustrations will be readily seen the grammatical changes made in transferring from direct to indirect discourse.

From Project Gutenberg

I extract a few passages, the conversations being given in indirect discourse.

From Project Gutenberg

Those who have studied Latin will find the “indirect discourse” of Cicero a useful model.

From Project Gutenberg