Part 347

Dis*cur"sist, n. A discourser. [Obs.] L. Addison.

Dis*cur"sive (?), a. [Cf. F. discursif. See Discourse, and cf. Discoursive.] 1. Passing from one thing to another; ranging over a wide field; roving; digressive; desultory. "Discursive notices." De Quincey.

The power he [Shakespeare] delights to show is not intense, but discursive.

Hazlitt.

A man rather tacit than discursive.

Carlyle.

2. Reasoning; proceeding from one ground to another, as in reasoning; argumentative.

Reason is her being, Discursive or intuitive.

Milton.

-- Dis*cur"sive*ly, adv. -- Dis*cur"sive*ness, n.

Dis*cur`so*ry (?), a. Argumentative; discursive; reasoning. [R.] Bp. Hall.

Dis*cur"sus (?), n. [L.] (Logic) Argumentation; ratiocination; discursive reasoning.

Dis"cus (?), n.; pl. E. Discuses (#), L. Disci (#). [L. See Disk.] 1. (a) A quoit; a circular plate of some heavy material intended to be pitched or hurled as a trial of strength and skill. (b) The exercise with the discus.

This among the Greeks was one of the chief gymnastic exercises and was included in the Pentathlon (the contest of the five exercises). The chief contest was that of throwing the discus to the greatest possible distance.

2. A disk. See Disk.

Dis*cuss" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discussed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Discussing.] [L. discussus, p. p. of discutere to strike asunder (hence came the sense to separate mentally, distinguish); dis- + quatere to shake, strike. See Quash.] 1. To break to pieces; to shatter. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

2. To break up; to disperse; to scatter; to dissipate; to drive away; -- said especially of tumors.

Many arts were used to discuss the beginnings of new affection.

Sir H. Wotton.

A pomade . . . of virtue to discuss pimples.

Rambler.

3. To shake; to put away; to finish. [Obs.]

All regard of shame she had discussed.

Spenser.

4. To examine in detail or by disputation; to reason upon by presenting favorable and adverse considerations; to debate; to sift; to investigate; to ventilate. "We sat and . . . discussed the farm . . . and the price of grain." Tennyson. "To discuss questions of taste." Macaulay.

5. To deal with, in eating or drinking. [Colloq.]

We sat quietly down and discussed a cold fowl that we had brought with us.

Sir S. Baker.