discourse

Meanings

Noun

• Verbal exchange, conversation.
• Expression in words, either speech or writing.
• A formal lengthy exposition of some subject, either spoken or written.
• Any rational expression, reason.
• An institutionalized way of thinking, a social boundary defining what can be said about a specific topic (after Michel Foucault).
• Dealing; transaction.

Verb

• To engage in discussion or conversation; to converse.
• To write or speak formally and at length.
• To debate.
• To exercise reason; to employ the mind in judging and inferring; to reason.
• To produce or emit (musical sounds).

Related

Similar words

• communication, expression
• debate, conversation, discussion, talk
• dissertation, lecture, sermon, study, treatise
• ratiocination
• converse, talk

Origin

• From Middle English discours, borrowed from Middle French discours ("conversation, speech"), from Latin discursus ("the act of running about"), from Latin discurrō ("run about"), from dis- + currō. Spelling modified by influence of Middle French cours. discursus.