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disquisition

[dis-kwuh-zish-uh n]
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noun
  1. a formal discourse or treatise in which a subject is examined and discussed; dissertation.
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Origin of disquisition

1595–1605; < Latin disquīsītiōn- (stem of disquīsītiō), equivalent to disquīsīt(us) (past participle of disquīrere to investigate; dis- dis-1 + quaerere to seek, ask) + -iōn- -ion
Related formsdis·qui·si·tion·al, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for disquisition

Historical Examples

  • This is hardly the place for a disquisition upon African Latin.

    The Apologia and Florida of Apuleius of Madaura

    Lucius Apuleius

  • I thought the company had had about enough of this disquisition.

    Over the Teacups

    Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

  • The disquisition on the reasons for the Euxine's freezing over is, however, new.

  • Why even did he not continue his disquisition on the philosophic value of allusiveness?

    The Belovd Vagabond

    William J. Locke

  • But there was no time for disquisition, the second bee being now ready for a start.

    Oak Openings

    James Fenimore Cooper

British Dictionary definitions for disquisition

disquisition

noun
  1. a formal written or oral examination of a subject
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Derived Formsdisquisitional, adjective

Word Origin

C17: from Latin disquīsītiō, from disquīrere to make an investigation, from dis- 1 + quaerere to seek
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

Word Origin and History for disquisition

n.

c.1600, "subject for investigation," also "systematic search," from Latin disquisitionem (nominative disquisitio) "an inquiry, investigation," noun of action from past participle stem of disquirere "inquire," from dis- "apart" (see dis-) + quaerere "seek, ask" (see query (v.)). Sense of "long speech" first recorded 1640s.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper