discursive

Adjective
Synonyms: dianoeticdigressiveexcursiverambling

WordNet 3.0

Adjective (2)

  1. proceeding to a conclusion by reason or argument rather than intuitionSynonyms: dianoetic
  2. (of e.g. speech and writing) tending to depart from the main point or cover a wide range of subjects“amusingly digressive with satirical thrusts at women's fashions among other things”“a rambling discursive book”“his excursive remarks”“a rambling speech about this and that”Synonyms: digressiveexcursiverambling
Advertisement

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Discursive \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. [1913 Webster]

The power he [Shakespeare] delights to show is not intense, but discursive.— Hazlitt.[1913 Webster]
A man rather tacit than discursive.— Carlyle.[1913 Webster]

2.Reasoning; proceeding from one ground to another, as in reasoning; argumentative. [1913 Webster]

Reason is her being, Discursive or intuitive. --Milton. -- Dis*cur"sive*ly, adv. -- Dis*cur"sive*ness, n. [1913 Webster]
Advertisement