Library / English Dictionary

DISCOURSE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Extended verbal expression in speech or writing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("discourse" is a kind of...):

language unit; linguistic unit (one of the natural units into which linguistic messages can be analyzed)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "discourse"):

context; context of use; linguistic context (discourse that surrounds a language unit and helps to determine its interpretation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An extended communication (often interactive) dealing with some particular topic

Example:

his treatment of the race question is badly biased

Synonyms:

discourse; discussion; treatment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("discourse" is a kind of...):

communicating; communication (the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "discourse"):

detail (extended treatment of particulars)

dilation (a lengthy discussion (spoken or written) on a particular topic)

consideration (a discussion of a topic (as in a meeting))

talk (discussion; ('talk about' is a less formal alternative for 'discussion of'))

elaboration; enlargement; expansion (a discussion that provides additional information)

Derivation:

discourse (to consider or examine in speech or writing)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service)

Synonyms:

discourse; preaching; sermon

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("discourse" is a kind of...):

address; speech (the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience)

Domain category:

church; church service (a service conducted in a house of worship)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "discourse"):

homily; preachment (a sermon on a moral or religious topic)

evangelism (zealous preaching and advocacy of the gospel)

kerugma; kerygma (preaching the gospel of Christ in the manner of the early church)

baccalaureate (a farewell sermon to a graduating class at their commencement ceremonies)

Instance hyponyms:

Sermon on the Mount (the first major discourse delivered by Jesus (Matthew 5-7 and Luke 6:20-49))

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Talk at length and formally about a topic

Example:

The speaker dissertated about the social politics in 18th century England

Synonyms:

discourse; dissertate; hold forth

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "discourse" is one way to...):

speak; talk (exchange thoughts; talk with)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s on something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Carry on a conversation

Synonyms:

converse; discourse

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "discourse" is one way to...):

speak; talk (exchange thoughts; talk with)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "discourse"):

argue; contend; debate; fence (have an argument about something)

interview; question (conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting)

interview (discuss formally with (somebody) for the purpose of an evaluation)

interview (go for an interview in the hope of being hired)

chaffer; chat; chatter; chew the fat; chit-chat; chitchat; claver; confab; confabulate; gossip; jaw; natter; shoot the breeze; visit (talk socially without exchanging too much information)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 3

Meaning:

To consider or examine in speech or writing

Example:

The class discussed Dante's 'Inferno'

Synonyms:

discourse; discuss; talk about

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "discourse" is one way to...):

address; cover; deal; handle; plow; treat (act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "discourse"):

descant (talk at great length about something of one's interest)

talk shop (discuss matters that are related to work)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sentence examples:

Sam and Sue discourse

Sam wants to discourse with Sue

Derivation:

discourse (an extended communication (often interactive) dealing with some particular topic)

Credits

 Context examples: 

And if they were failures on shop, imagine my sufferings if they had discoursed on other subjects.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

There was a little awkwardness at first in their discourse on another subject.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

After a little more discourse in praise of gruel, with some wondering at its not being taken every evening by every body, he proceeded to say, with an air of grave reflection, It was an awkward business, my dear, your spending the autumn at South End instead of coming here.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Mr. Utterson the lawyer was a man of a rugged countenance that was never lighted by a smile; cold, scanty and embarrassed in discourse; backward in sentiment; lean, long, dusty, dreary and yet somehow lovable.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

The Count saw his victory in my bow, and his mastery in the trouble of my face, for he began at once to use them, but in his own smooth, resistless way:—I pray you, my good young friend, that you will not discourse of things other than business in your letters.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

They are bewitched, and are obliged to watch over a great treasure which is below in the tower, and they can have no rest until it is taken away, and I have likewise learnt, from their discourse, how that is to be done.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

How I wish I could reproduce the glamour of his discourses, the peculiar mixture of accurate knowledge and of racy imagination which gave them their fascination, until even the Professor's cynical and sceptical smile would gradually vanish from his thin face as he listened.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I may have commented upon my friend’s power of mental detachment, but never have I wondered at it more than upon that spring morning in Cornwall when for two hours he discoursed upon celts, arrowheads, and shards, as lightly as if no sinister mystery were waiting for his solution.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

For me, I felt at home in this sort of discourse.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

It is Sophy's birthday; and, on our road, Traddles discourses to me of the good fortune he has enjoyed.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)