Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1400-1500
Language: Late Latin
Origin: discursus 'conversation', from Latin, 'running around', from currere 'to run'

discourse

1 noun
     
dis‧course1 W3 formal
1 [countable] a serious speech or piece of writing on a particular subject
discourse on/upon
a discourse on art
2 [uncountable] serious conversation or discussion between people:
Candidates should engage in serious political discourse.
3 [uncountable] the language used in particular types of speech or writing:
a study of spoken discourse
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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