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Jackson6612 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Discursive: moving from topic to topic without order

Hi

In the definition below, don't you think the senses "1 a" and "1 b" are opposite of each other? If so, then why is so? Please let me know. Thank you.

discursive
1 a : moving from topic to topic without order : RAMBLING b : proceeding coherently from topic to topic
2 : marked by analytical reasoning
3 : of or relating to discourse <discursive practices>
[M-W's Col. Dic.]

Regards
Jackson
  

Top answer

It is so because of different origins of the word "discourse" ( a logical formal argument or speech, from the French, discours ) and the Latin dis+cursive. Dis (the prefix) means apart; as in dis honest, dis cord; the cursive comes from the verb to run (as in cursive writing). So it literally means "running apart" or "running every which way" Some of my old professors did tend to ramble, and to delve into long discourse.

— AlpheccaStars

  • It is so because of different origins of the word "discourse" ( a logical formal argument or speech, from the French, discours ) and the Latin dis+cursive.
  • Dis (the prefix) means apart; as in dis honest, dis cord; the cursive comes from the verb to run (as in cursive writing).
  • So it literally means "running apart" or "running every which way" Some of my old professors did tend to ramble, and to delve into long discourse.
  • When you see this word used, (mostly in academic writing) the meaning should be clear from context.
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2 Answers
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It is so because of different origins of the word "discourse" ( a logical formal argument or speech, from the French, discours) and the Latin dis+cursive.
Dis (the prefix) means apart; as in dishonest, discord; the cursive comes from the verb to run (as in cursive writing). So it literally means "running apart" or "running every which way"

Some of my old profe
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