:
1. c1400— The process or faculty of reasoning; reasoned argument or thought; reason, rationality.2.a. 1532–1683 The thread of an argument; a line of reasoning; a reasoned argument. Obsolete.
2.b. 1541–1632 More generally: the onward course of something in space or time; succession or sequence of time, events, actions, etc. Cf. course n.1 A.III.16. Obsolete.
3.a. 1533—A more or less formal treatment of a subject, in speech or writing, in which it is considered or discussed at length; a treatise, dissertation, homily, or the like; a disquisition.
3.b. 1546—A narrative or account of a particular subject. Now rare.
4.a. 1545—The action or process of communicating thought by means of the spoken word; interchange of words; conversation, talk. Also: the words exchanged by this means; speech. In later use also: the written representation of this; communication in written form.
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7. 1931—The body of statements, analysis, opinions, etc., relating to a particular domain of intellectual or social activity, esp. as characterized by recurring themes, concepts, or values; (also) the set of shared beliefs, values, etc., implied or expressed by this. Frequently with of or modifying word.
8. 1951—Linguistics. A connected series of utterances by which meaning is communicated, esp. one forming a unit for analysis; spoken or written communication regarded as consisting of such utterances.
Compounds and derived words:
discourse, v. 1546–
intransitive. Frequently with of, on, upon. To…discoursory, adj. 1581–1604
= discoursive, adj.love discourse, n. 1591–
discoursative, adj. 1604–68
Rational, reasonable; susceptible to rational…table discourse, n. 1611–
Discourse or conversation at table, table talk…discourseless, adj. 1620–1857
Having no rational capability; unreasoning.by-discourse, n. 1660–
tavern-discourse, n. 1660–
discourse analysis, n. 1952–
A method of analysing the structure of texts or utterances longer than one sentence, taking into account both their linguistic content and their sociolinguistic context; analysis performed using this method.free indirect discourse, n. 1953– A manner of presenting the thoughts or utterances…
discourse analyst, n. 1958–
A person who engages in discourse analysis.metadiscourse, n. 1960–
Any discourse which is concerned with or alludes to other discourses. Also: a general or universal discourse which sets the parameters within which other discourses are employed.discoursal, adj. 1967–
Of or relating to discourse or a discourse (see…discourse marker, n. 1967–
A word or phrase whose function is to organize discourse into segments and situate a clause, sentence, etc., within a larger context.discourse theory, n. 1969–
A theoretical approach which uses discourse…discourse community, n. 1972–
A group of people sharing a common and distinct mode of communication or discourse, esp. within a particular domain of intellectual or social activity.