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View synonyms for discursive

discursive

[ dih-skur-siv ]

adjective

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

    Synonyms: prolix, long-winded, wandering

  2. proceeding by reasoning or argument rather than intuition.


discursive

/ dɪˈskɜːsɪv /

adjective

  1. passing from one topic to another, usually in an unmethodical way; digressive
  2. philosophy of or relating to knowledge obtained by reason and argument rather than intuition Compare dianoetic
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • disˈcursiveness, noun
  • disˈcursively, adverb
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Other Words From

  • dis·cursive·ly adverb
  • dis·cursive·ness noun
  • nondis·cursive adjective
  • nondis·cursive·ly adverb
  • nondis·cursive·ness noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of discursive1

From the Medieval Latin word discursīvus, dating back to 1590–1600. See discourse, -ive
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Word History and Origins

Origin of discursive1

C16: from Medieval Latin discursīvus, from Late Latin discursus discourse
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Example Sentences

Buterin, who gave two talks, has a discursive and often highly theoretical talking style, making it difficult to pull out specific and succinct theses from his speeches.

From Time

“Conversational intelligence is the constellation of features and technologies that enable humans and machines to take turns exchanging language and work toward accomplishing a discursive goal,” says Bennett.

The questions linger throughout this at times maddeningly discursive novel.

Now Intelligence possesses them by thought, a thought which is not discursive (but intuitive).

Yet the impulse to discursive commentary must be checked, for plucking flowers is a distraction from comparative botany.

The discursive faculty then becomes what our Shakespeare, with happy precision, calls "discourse of reason."

Who is more discursive than the Autocrat, the Czar of table-talkers; and whose productions are more charming or wiser?

The evidence of such principles is established by a long and discursive psychological discussion.

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discursiondiscus