digress

Verb
Synonyms: straydivagatewandersidetrackdepartstraggle

WordNet 3.0

Verb (2)

  1. lose clarity or turn aside especially from the main subject of attention or course of argument in writing, thinking, or speaking“She always digresses when telling a story”“her mind wanders”“Don't digress when you give a lecture”Synonyms: straydivagatewander
  2. wander from a direct or straight courseSynonyms: sidetrackdepartstraggle
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Digress \Di*gress"\, n. Digression. [Obs.] --Fuller. [1913 Webster]
Digress \Di*gress"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Digressed; p. pr. & vb. n. Digressing.] [L. digressus, p. p. of digredi to go apart, to deviate; di- = dis- + gradi to step, walk. See Grade.]

1.To step or turn aside; to deviate; to swerve; especially, to turn aside from the main subject of attention, or course of argument, in writing or speaking. [1913 Webster]

Moreover she beginneth to digress in latitude.— Holland.[1913 Webster]
In the pursuit of an argument there is hardly room to digress into a particular definition as often as a man varies the signification of any term.— Locke.[1913 Webster]

2.To turn aside from the right path; to transgress; to offend. [R.] [1913 Webster]

Thy abundant goodness shall excuse This deadly blot on thy digressing son.— Shak.[1913 Webster]
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