dissertation
[dis-er-tey-shuh n]
- a written essay, treatise, or thesis, especially one written by a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
- any formal discourse in speech or writing.
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Origin of dissertation
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for dissertation
Contemporary Examples
In her dissertation, McFate had asked whether ‘good anthropology’ might lead to ‘better killing.’
Heritage has distanced itself from Richwine and his dissertation.
His hilarious parody-fable, “A Dissertation Upon Roast Pig,” traces the supposed genesis of that culinary delicacy.
It seems to me that every book reminds me of writing a dissertation.
He surely was only offering to help out a student with her dissertation when he gave her his card.
Historical Examples
It is the aim of the present dissertation to accomplish this.
The Dramatic Values in PlautusWilton Wallace Blancke
And accordingly they stand beyond the range of this dissertation.
He was not in the mood to listen to a dissertation on a text taken from Foul Play.
The PortygeeJoseph Crosby Lincoln
We have already mentioned this subject in the Dissertation on Apparitions.
The Phantom WorldAugustin Calmet
The author had foreseen this objection from the beginning of his dissertation.
The Phantom WorldAugustin Calmet
dissertation
- a written thesis, often based on original research, usually required for a higher degree
- a formal discourse
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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 dissertation
n.
1610s, "discussion, debate," from Latin dissertationem (nominative dissertatio) "discourse," noun of action from past participle stem of dissertare "debate, argue, examine, harangue," frequentative of disserere "discuss, examine," from dis- "apart" (see dis-) + serere "to arrange words" (see series). Sense of "formal, written treatise" is 1650s.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper