Part 3206

<hw>Dis*cur"sist</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A discourser.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>L. Addison.</i>

<h1>Discursive</h1> <Xpage=423>

<hw>Dis*cur"sive</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>discursif</ets>. See <er>Discourse</er>, and cf. <er>Discoursive</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>Passing from one thing to another; ranging over a wide field; roving; digressive; desultory.</def> "<i>Discursive</i> notices."

<i>De Quincey.</i>

<blockquote>The power he [Shakespeare] delights to show is not intense, but <b>discursive</b>. <i>Hazlitt.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>A man rather tacit than <b>discursive</b>. <i>Carlyle.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Reasoning; proceeding from one ground to another, as in reasoning; argumentative.</def>

<blockquote>Reason is her being, <b>Discursive</b> or intuitive. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

-- <wordforms><wf>Dis*cur"sive*ly</wf>, <tt>adv.</tt> -- <wf>Dis*cur"sive*ness</wf>, <tt>n.</tt></wordforms>

<h1>Discursory</h1> <Xpage=423>

<hw>Dis*cur`so*ry</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Argumentative; discursive; reasoning.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<i>Bp. Hall.</i>

<h1>Discursus</h1> <Xpage=423>

<hw>Dis*cur"sus</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L.]</ety> <fld>(Logic)</fld> <def>Argumentation; ratiocination; discursive reasoning.</def>

<h1>Discus</h1> <Xpage=423>

<hw>Dis"cus</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. E. <plw>Discuses</plw> <tt>(#)</tt>, L. <plw>Disci</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[L. See <er>Disk</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>A quoit; a circular plate of some heavy material intended to be pitched or hurled as a trial of strength and skill</def>. <sd>(b)</sd> <def>The exercise with the discus.</def>

<note>&hand; 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.</note>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A disk. See <er>Disk</er>.</def>

<h1>Discuss</h1> <Xpage=423>

<hw>Dis*cuss"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Discussed</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Discussing</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[L. <ets>discussus</ets>, p. p. of <ets>discutere</ets> to strike asunder (hence came the sense <ets>to separate mentally</ets>, <ets>distinguish</ets>); <ets>dis-</ets> + <ets>quatere</ets> to shake, strike. See <er>Quash</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>To break to pieces; to shatter.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Sir T. Browne.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To break up; to disperse; to scatter; to dissipate; to drive away; -- said especially of tumors.</def>

<blockquote>Many arts were used to <b>discuss</b> the beginnings of new affection. <i>Sir H. Wotton.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>A pomade . . . of virtue to <b>discuss</b> pimples. <i>Rambler.</i></blockquote>