'Discourse' definitions:

Definition of 'discourse'

From: WordNet
noun
Extended verbal expression in speech or writing
noun
An address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service) [syn: sermon, discourse, preaching]
noun
An extended communication (often interactive) dealing with some particular topic; "the book contains an excellent discussion of modal logic"; "his treatment of the race question is badly biased" [syn: discussion, treatment, discourse]
verb
To consider or examine in speech or writing; "The author talks about the different aspects of this question"; "The class discussed Dante's `Inferno'" [syn: discourse, talk about, discuss]
verb
Carry on a conversation [syn: converse, discourse]
verb
Talk at length and formally about a topic; "The speaker dissertated about the social politics in 18th century England" [syn: hold forth, discourse, dissertate]

Definition of 'Discourse'

From: GCIDE
  • Discourse \Dis*course"\, n. [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.]
  • 1. 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. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • Difficult, strange, and harsh to the discourses of natural reason. --South. [1913 Webster]
  • Sure he that made us with such large discourse, Looking before and after, gave us not That capability and godlike reason To fust in us unused. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Conversation; talk. [1913 Webster]
  • In their discourses after supper. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Filling the head with variety of thoughts, and the mouth with copious discourse. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. The art and manner of speaking and conversing. [1913 Webster]
  • Of excellent breeding, admirable discourse. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Consecutive speech, either written or unwritten, on a given line of thought; speech; treatise; dissertation; sermon, etc.; as, the preacher gave us a long discourse on duty. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. Dealing; transaction. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • Good Captain Bessus, tell us the discourse Betwixt Tigranes and our king, and how We got the victory. --Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Discourse'

From: GCIDE
  • Discourse \Dis*course"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Discoursed; p. pr. & vb. n. Discoursing.]
  • 1. To exercise reason; to employ the mind in judging and inferring; to reason. [Obs.] "Have sense or can discourse." --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. 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. [1913 Webster]
  • Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To relate something; to tell. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. To treat of something in writing and formally. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Discourse'

From: GCIDE
  • Discourse \Dis*course"\, v. t.
  • 1. To treat of; to expose or set forth in language. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • The life of William Tyndale . . . is sufficiently and at large discoursed in the book. --Foxe. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To utter or give forth; to speak. [1913 Webster]
  • It will discourse most eloquent music. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To talk to; to confer with. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • I have spoken to my brother, who is the patron, to discourse the minister about it. --Evelyn. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'discourse'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Discourse'