Discursive — Dis*cur sive, a. [Cf. F. discursif. See {Discourse}, and cf. {Discoursive}.] 1. Passing from one thing to another; ranging over a wide field; roving; digressive; desultory. Discursive notices. De Quincey. [1913 Webster] The power he [Shakespeare] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
discursive — I (analytical) adjective a fortiori, a posteriori, a priori, analytic, argumentative, deductive, dialectic, disquisitional, epagogic, inductive, inferential, interpretative, logical, ratiocinative, ratiocinatory, rational, rationalistic,… … Law dictionary
discursive — 1590s, from M.Fr. discursif, from M.L. discursivus, from L. discursus a running about (see DISCOURSE (Cf. discourse)). Related: Discursively … Etymology dictionary
discursive — [adj] rambling deviating, digressive, erratic, excursive, long winded, meandering, prolix, roaming, roving, spreading, wandering; concept 267 … New thesaurus
discursive — ► ADJECTIVE 1) digressing from subject to subject. 2) relating to discourse or modes of discourse. DERIVATIVES discursively adverb discursiveness noun. ORIGIN Latin discursivus, from discurrere (see DISCOURSE(Cf. ↑d … English terms dictionary
discursive — [di skʉr′siv] adj. [ML discursivus < L discursus: see DISCOURSE] 1. wandering from one topic to another; skimming over many apparently unconnected subjects; rambling; desultory; digressive 2. based on the conscious use of reasoning rather than … English World dictionary
discursive — ● discursif, discursive adjectif (latin scolastique discursivus, de discursus, discours) Qui repose sur le raisonnement, procède par le raisonnement, par opposition à intuitif. En linguistique, qui se rapporte au discours, à l analyse de discours … Encyclopédie Universelle
discursive — [[t]dɪskɜ͟ː(r)sɪv[/t]] ADJ GRADED If a style of writing is discursive, it includes a lot of facts or opinions that are not necessarily relevant. [FORMAL] ...a livelier, more candid and more discursive treatment of the subject … English dictionary
discursive — adjective 1) dull, discursive prose Syn: rambling, digressive, meandering, wandering, maundering, diffuse, long, lengthy, wordy, verbose, long winded, prolix; circuitous, roundabout, circumlocutory; informal waffly A … Thesaurus of popular words
discursive — adjective Etymology: Medieval Latin discursivus, from Latin discursus, past participle of discurrere to run about more at discourse Date: 1598 1. a. moving from topic to topic without order ; rambling b. proceeding coherently … New Collegiate Dictionary
