discourse

Pluraldiscourses (some meanings)

Formsdiscourses, discoursing, discoursed

1. 1
   noununcountable

   The expression of thought in words, whether spoken or written.

   Philosophers have long studied how discourse shapes the way we understand the world.

   All human discourse, spoken or written, relies on shared conventions of meaning.

   Similarcommunication, language, speech, expression

2. 2
   nouncountable

   A formal, lengthy exposition of a subject, delivered as a speech or written text.

   His discourse on moral philosophy ran to nearly two hundred pages.

   The bishop delivered a lengthy discourse on charity to the assembled crowd.

   Similartreatise, lecture, dissertation, essay, address

3. 3
   nouncountable

   An institutionalized way of thinking that sets the social limits on what can be said about a given topic.

   Foucault showed how medical discourse defined who counted as sane or ill.

   Colonial discourse shaped which voices were treated as authoritative.

   Note

   A term of art in the social sciences, borrowed from Michel Foucault: a discourse is the system that decides what can be said about a subject. It usually takes a field or topic before it, as in criminological discourse or Israel/Palestine discourse. It is countable, so scholars write of queer discourses in the plural. Unlike plain expression in words, it names the rules behind the talk, not the talk itself.

4. 4
   nouncountable

   An exchange of spoken words between two or more people; a conversation.

   The evening's discourse turned to politics after dinner.

   She enjoyed a lively discourse with the visiting scholars.

   Similarconversation, discussion, dialogue, talk, exchange

5. 5
   noununcountable

   Lengthy, often heated online debate over controversial subjects, especially within fandom and activist communities.

   Every season finale drags the fandom into another round of discourse.

   The casting announcement set off weeks of discourse across the internet.

   Similardebate, drama, controversy, argument, discussion

   Note

   Internet usage with a shrug built into it. Capitalized and given the definite article, the Discourse became a meme on Tumblr, as Medium recalled in April 2016. In fan writing it usually follows the name of a franchise, as in Star Trek discourse or Doctor Who discourse. It suggests argument that is endless, heated and often petty, and it is rarely a compliment.

6. 6
   verbintransitive

   To speak or write formally and at length on a subject.

   The visiting lecturer discoursed at length on the origins of language.

   He could discourse for hours about medieval architecture without notes.

   Similarexpound, lecture, expatiate, speak, elaborate

7. 7
   verbintransitive

   To take part in conversation or discussion with others; to converse.

   The delegates discoursed amiably during the reception.

   Scholars gathered to discourse on the meaning of the ancient text.

   Similarconverse, talk, chat, confer

8. 8
   nouncountable

   A rational expression of thought; a piece of reasoning.

   The philosopher's discourse moved logically from premise to conclusion.

   She admired the elegant discourse by which he justified his choice.

   Similarreasoning, argument, argumentation, logic

   Note

   Here the word names reasoning itself rather than speech. Hamlet's "such large discourse, / Looking before and after" sets it beside "godlike reason," and Robert South in 1692 writes of "the discourses of natural reason." In older texts, read it as the mind's power to move from one thought to the next. The noun is the counterpart of the verb meaning "to reason".

9. 9
   verbintransitive

   To think things through logically, forming judgments and drawing conclusions.

   She discoursed inwardly, weighing the evidence before forming a judgment.

   Reason allows the mind to discourse, moving from premises to inferences.

   Similarreason, think, deliberate, cogitate

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