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
They have become so disdainful of the essentials of political practice in a democratic society — a baseline attachment to the rule of law and honesty in political discourse — that they mock the very idea of accountability on these questions.
The RNC weaponized exhaustion|Zack Beauchamp|August 28, 2020|Vox
She explained that it goes back a bit to the level of discourse.
A deeper dive into more of the Bing Search ranking factors|Barry Schwartz|August 25, 2020|Search Engine Land
Like WeChat WeiBo and there was a flourishing of online activity and online public discourse that caused the censorship systems to lag behind.
This week’s new normal of a well-produced Democratic National Convention was a first—no hot-air balloons and random speakers but also no impromptu discourse.
Departure from convention—mom, baseball, the postal worker, and patriotism|jakemeth|August 19, 2020|Fortune
Take, for example, a recent paper that makes the case that the behavioral sciences can “promote truth, autonomy and democratic discourse online.”
The Anonymous Culture Cops of the Internet - Facts So Romantic|Jesse Singal|August 12, 2020|Nautilus
His discourse is now more detailed: submission, which is the meaning of islam in Arabic, gives him a kind of enjoyment.
Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim President|Pierre Assouline|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The dire fatalism that dominated the discourse then is gone, replaced largely with a practiced apathy.
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban Valley|Matt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Is it the faculty of reason, or perhaps, the faculty for discourse?
The Bioethicist Turned Butcher|Elizabeth Picciuto|September 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Several stubborn ideas have steered much of the discourse around health care.
Can Fitbit Data Save Lives?|Daniela Drake|August 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But if you choose to conduct your discourse in 140-word snaps, or soundbites, then you reap the crop of dumb that you sow.
Why We Should Hate 'Haters Gonna Hate'|Tim Teeman|August 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He formed a close friendship with Swarup, and the two lived together engaged in discourse on Krishna.
Chaitanya's Life And Teachings|Krishna das Kaviraja
Jessamine grew silent and almost peevish; and from discourse upon man and woman she hopped, she skipped, she flew.
Lin McLean|Owen Wister
I think I can give you almost word for word the discourse as it ran.
Tales of the Wonder Club, Volume II|Alexander Huth
But here, in the last book, there does seem to be some kind of method in his discourse.
The Life of Cicero|Anthony Trollope
After this pause, I renewed the discourse with some of its original spirit.
The Chainbearer|J. Fenimore Cooper
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
archaicthe ability to reason or the reasoning process
verb (dɪsˈkɔːs)
(intr; often foll by on or upon)to speak or write (about) formally and extensively
(intr)to hold a discussion
(tr)archaicto give forth (music)
Derived forms of discourse
discourser, noun
Word 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