discursive

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dis·cur·sive

(dĭ-skûr′sĭv)

adj.

1. Covering a wide field of subjects; rambling.

2. Proceeding to a conclusion through reason rather than intuition.

[Medieval Latin discursīvus, from Latin discursus, running about; see discourse.]

dis·cur′sive·ly adv.

dis·cur′sive·ness n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

discursive

(dɪˈskɜːsɪv)

adj

1. passing from one topic to another, usually in an unmethodical way; digressive

2. (Philosophy) philosophy of or relating to knowledge obtained by reason and argument rather than intuition. Compare dianoetic

[C16: from Medieval Latin discursīvus, from Late Latin discursus discourse]

disˈcursively adv

disˈcursiveness n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

dis•cur•sive

(dɪˈskɜr sɪv)

adj.

1. passing aimlessly from one subject to another; digressive; rambling.

2. proceeding by reasoning or argument rather than intuition.

[1590–1600; < Medieval Latin discursīvus. See discourse, -ive]

dis•cur′sive•ly, adv.

dis•cur′sive•ness, n.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Adj.	1.	discursive - proceeding to a conclusion by reason or argument rather than intuition dianoetic philosophy - the rational investigation of questions about existence and knowledge and ethics logical - capable of or reflecting the capability for correct and valid reasoning; "a logical mind"
	2.	discursive - (of e.g. speech and writing) tending to depart from the main point or cover a wide range of subjects; "amusingly digressive with satirical thrusts at women's fashions among other things"; "a rambling discursive book"; "his excursive remarks"; "a rambling speech about this and that" excursive, rambling, digressive indirect - extended senses; not direct in manner or language or behavior or action; "making indirect but legitimate inquiries"; "an indirect insult"; "doubtless they had some indirect purpose in mind"; "though his methods are indirect they are not dishonest"; "known as a shady indirect fellow"

discursive

adjective digressive, loose, rambling, roundabout, diffuse, meandering, desultory, long-winded, circuitous, prolix The book is characterized by a reflective, discursive style.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

discursive

adjective

Marked by or given to digression:

digressive, excursive, parenthetic, parenthetical, rambling, tangential.

Translations

diskursiv

discursif

digressivo che divaga

discursive

[dɪsˈkɜːsɪv] ADJ → divagador, prolijo (Ling, Philos) → discursivo

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

discursive

[dɪˈskɜː^rsɪv] adj [writing, style] → discursif/ive

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

discursive

adj

style → weitschweifig

(Philos) → diskursiv

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

References in classic literature ?

It is high time that I should pass from these brief and discursive notes about things in Flatland to the central event of this book, my initiation into the mysteries of Space.

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SADLY discursive as I have already been, I must still further entreat the reader's patience, as I am about to string together, without any attempt at order, a few odds and ends of things not hitherto mentioned, but which are either curious in themselves or peculiar to the Typees.

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It appeared from his discursive answer that she had not much of a name one way or another.

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I had not got far into it, when I judged from her looks that she was thinking in a discursive way of me, rather than of what I said.

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Although I do not mean to assert that it is usually the practice of renowned and learned sages, to shorten the road to any great conclusion (their course indeed being rather to lengthen the distance, by various circumlocations and discursive staggerings, like unto those in which drunken men under the pressure of a too mighty flow of ideas, are prone to indulge); still, I do mean to say, and do say distinctly, that it is the invariable practice of many mighty philosophers, in carrying out their theories, to evince great wisdom and foresight in providing against every possible contingency which can be supposed at all likely to affect themselves.

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During this discursive address Silas had continued motionless in his previous attitude, leaning his elbows on his knees, and pressing his hands against his head.

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During the meal the Frenchman was in great feather: he was discursive and pompous to every one.

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What could she do, what ought she to do?--she, hardly more than a budding woman, but yet with an active conscience and a great mental need, not to be satisfied by a girlish instruction comparable to the nibblings and judgments of a discursive mouse.

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The completed book is a discursive treatise, the various volumes necessarily written from more or less different view-points, on many of the main aspects, general and technical, of all art, literary as well as pictorial.

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Hargrave and Annabella, from different motives and in different ways, emulated me, and doubtless both surpassed me, the former in his discursive versatility and eloquence, the latter in boldness and animation at least.

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So from the root Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the leaves More aerie, last the bright consummate floure Spirits odorous breathes: flours and thir fruit Mans nourishment, by gradual scale sublim'd To vital Spirits aspire, to animal, To intellectual, give both life and sense, Fansie and understanding, whence the soule Reason receives, and reason is her being, Discursive, or Intuitive; discourse Is oftest yours, the latter most is ours, Differing but in degree, of kind the same.

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As a rule, her conversation, though pleasing, was discursive and lacked central motive, but one morning she had genuine news to impart.