Posted on 01/10/2008 5:47:20 AM PST by secret garden
In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day".
discursive \dis-KUR-siv\, adjective
1. Passing from one topic to another; ranging over a wide field; digressive; rambling.
2. Utilizing, marked by, or based on analytical reasoning -- contrasted with intuitive.
Example sentences:
The style is highly discursive, leap-frogging forwards and backwards across the decades, without ever sacrificing thrust or clarity.
-- Nicholas Blincoe, "Spirit that speaks", The Guardian, August 21, 1999
Rather than being a limiting influence, the time restrictions seem often to have compelled ensembles and soloists to condense and distill arrangements and to edit potentially discursive solo performances.
-- Richard M. Sudhalter, Lost Chords
He is in general a discursive politician: Start him talking and you cannot get him to stop.
-- Dan Balz, "President Endures Embarrassing Week", Washington Post, March 15, 1998
Etymology:
Discursive comes from Latin discurrere, "to run in different directions, to run about, to run to and fro," from dis-, "apart, in different directions" + currere, "to run."
The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day. The Review threads are linked for your edification. ;-)
Practice makes perfect.....post on....
Review Thread One: Word For The Day, Thursday 11/14/02: Raffish (Be SURE to check out posts #92 and #111 on this thread!)
Review Thread Two: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/14/03: Roister
Review Thread Three: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/28/03: Obdurate
WFB's attempt to emulate us ; ) No pushing at the door please!
doesn’t she write sex novels? what does she know about anything?
A+ for you. One minute hillary’s whining about being picked on because she’s a woman and the next she’s faking tears to get the idiots to feel her pain. She and bill were made for each other but why won’t they just GO AWAY?
Jean Francois Kerry is endorsing Obamanation.
saw that. doesn’t surprise me i guess.
Hillary must be throwing lamps over it, though.
did you hear that 15 seconds past the bawling session tape she was blasting the Obamaman? proving that the tears were tears of rage, her only emotion.,
I did not hear that.
Not suprising.
What fricken tears? I’ve seen the ‘interview’... several times. Just a sniff wif no tears.
Good news.
Fred is going to take the Huckster to the woodshed in South Carolina.
The news made me so happy I sent a contribution.
A for you! And I agree, everyone is talking about her “crying” but not a single crocodile tear fell on that botoxed face. Because it would make her start MELTING!
where did you see that news? it will be a pleasure to see that!
Mrs Clinton is a discursive speaker.
First she curses dis a way, then dat a way, then de other way ....
God knows I sure hope so.
A for you Robert! Are you back on a normal schedule?
ARE YOU FLOODING?
I shall forward the email to you in a few minutes.
Pretty much ... Back at home for a bit.
That expression has a unique meaning in Cracker parlance, and the answer is, "No."
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