DISCOURSE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does discourse mean? 

• DISCOURSE (noun)
  The noun DISCOURSE has 3 senses:

1. extended verbal expression in speech or writing

2. an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service)

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

  Familiarity information: DISCOURSE used as a noun is uncommon.

• DISCOURSE (verb)
  The verb DISCOURSE has 3 senses:

1. to consider or examine in speech or writing

2. carry on a conversation

3. talk at length and formally about a topic

  Familiarity information: DISCOURSE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

discourse; preaching; sermon

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"):

evangelism (zealous preaching and advocacy of the gospel)

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

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))

Sense 3

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

discourse; discussion; treatment

Context example:

his treatment of the race question is badly biased

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)

• DISCOURSE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they discourse    ... he / she / it discourses   
Past simple: discoursed   
Past participle: discoursed   
-ing form: discoursing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

To consider or examine in speech or writing

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

discourse; discuss; talk about

Context example:

The class discussed Dante's 'Inferno'

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Carry on a conversation

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

converse; discourse

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:

Talk at length and formally about a topic

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

discourse; dissertate; hold forth

Context example:

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

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

speak; talk (exchange thoughts; talk with)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s on something

 Context examples 

Do with me and for me as you like; but excuse me from much discourse—my breath is short—I feel a spasm when I speak." All three surveyed me, and all three were silent.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

She had been graciously pleased to approve of both of the discourses which he had already had the honour of preaching before her.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Catherine feared, as she listened to their discourse, that he indulged himself a little too much with the foibles of others.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Some doubts always lingered in her mind when they parted, which could only be removed by another half hour's discourse with himself.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

So ended their discourse, which, for any very appropriate service it could render Fanny, might as well have been spared, for Mrs. Norris had not the smallest intention of taking her.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Shall I ever forget how, in a moment, he was the most sanguine of men, looking on to fortune; or how Mrs. Micawber presently discoursed about the habits of the kangaroo!

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The universe of discourse that surrounds a language unit and helps to determine its interpretation.

(Context, NCI Thesaurus)

I listened to this discourse with the extremest agony.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

It was the picture of St. Remi, man, of which I have been discoursing.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He added, that he had heard too much upon the subject of war, both in this and some former discourses.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)