discourse
part of speech
noun (discourse, discourses); verb (discourse, discourses, discoursed, discoursing — formal)
meaning for a pupil
1) (formal) Serious talk or discussion between people; the way people talk and write about a subject: «public discourse». tree →
2) (formal) A long, serious speech or piece of writing on a subject, such as a sermon. tree →
3) (verb, formal) To talk or write at length about something: «He discoursed on the stars». tree →
4) (language study) Any stretch of language longer than a sentence: conversation or connected text. tree →
sense in the lessons
A formal exam word met in English, history and church texts. In church: a «discourse» can mean a long sermon or teaching, such as Jesus' discourses in the Gospels. In news: «political discourse». Phrases: «public discourse», «a discourse on», «discourse about».
examples
- The professor gave a long discourse on volcanoes. tree →
- Polite discourse means listening as well as talking. tree →
- Grandad discoursed on the old days for an hour. tree →
- In the Gospel, Jesus' discourse at the Last Supper is long and tender. tree →
- Bad language has no place in classroom discourse. tree →
- The book is a discourse on kindness. tree →
- "Oh no," replied the counsellor; "I can only discourse on topics which every one should understand." tree →
note
Formal word. Pronounced DIS-corse (noun), dis-CORSE (verb, sometimes). In speech say «talk», «discussion» or «speech». Do not confuse with «discus» or «course».
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «discourse» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.