discussion

[dih-skuhsh-uh n]

noun

an act or instance of discussing; consideration or examination by argument, comment, etc., especially to explore solutions; informal debate.

Origin of discussion

1300–50; Middle English < Anglo-French < Late Latin discussiōn- (stem of discussiō) inquiry, examination, Latin: a shaking. See discuss, -ion

Related formsdis·cus·sion·al, adjectivepre·dis·cus·sion, nounre·dis·cus·sion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for prediscussion

discussion

noun

the examination or consideration of a matter in speech or writing

Derived Formsdiscussional, adjective

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 prediscussion

discussion

mid-14c., "examination, investigation, judicial trial," from Old French discussion "discussion, examination, investigation, legal trial," from Late Latin discussionem (nominative discussio) "examination, discussion," in classical Latin, "a shaking," from discussus, past participle of discutere "strike asunder, break up," from dis- "apart" (see dis-) + quatere "to shake" (see quash). Meaning "a talking over, debating" in English first recorded mid-15c. Sense evolution in Latin appears to have been from "smash apart" to "scatter, disperse," then in post-classical times (via the mental process involved) to "investigate, examine," then to "debate."