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weak and indifferent, is so often untwisted by violence, or raveled and entangled in weak discourses! Jer. Taylor.

uage, by interpreting the characters with which it is expressed; to peruse; as, to read a discourse; to read the letters of an alphabet; to read figures; to read the notes of music, or to read music; to read a book. Redeth [read ye] the great poet of Itaille. Chaucer. Well could he rede a lesson or a story. Chaucer.…

divine or human, but by our five senses and our reason. P. Browne. In common and popular discourse, reason denotes that power by which we distinguish truth from falsehood, and right from wrong, and by which we are enabled to combine means for the attainment of particular ends. Stewart. Reason is used sometimes to expr…

To repeat, as the principal points in a discourse, argument, or essay; to give a summary of the principal facts, points, or arguments of; to relate in brief; to summarize.

e statement or enumeration, of the principal points, facts, or statements, in a preceding discourse, argument, or essay.

ain; to recommence, as something which has been interrupted; as, to resume an argument or discourse.

re dignified or forcible; to increase in interest or power; -- said of style, thought, or discourse; as, to rise in force of expression; to rise in eloquence; a story rises in interest.

Something said; speech; discourse. [Obs.] "To hearken all his sawe." Chaucer.

In a manner to give offense; shamefully. His discourse at table was scandalously unbecoming the digmity of his station. Swift.

ations from Talmudists and scholiasts . . . ever marred the effect of his grave temperate discourses. Macaulay.

Exploring thoroughly; scrutinizing; penetrating; trying; as, a searching discourse; a searching eye. "Piercing, searching, biting, cold." Dickens. -- Search"ing*ly, adv. -- Search"ing*ness, n.

Sense; meaning; significance. [Obs.] Tales of best sentence and most solace. Chaucer. The discourse itself, voluble enough, and full of sentence. Milton.

ms; full of meaning; terse and energetic in expression; pithy; as, a sententious style or discourse; sententious truth. How he apes his sire, Ambitiously sententious! Addison.

A discourse or address; a talk; a writing; as, the sermens of Chaucer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

The act of discoursing; discourse; instruction; preaching. [Obs.] Chaucer.

To preach or discourse to; to affect or influence by means of a sermon or of sermons. [R.] Which of us shall sing or sermonize the other fast asleep Landor.

Regular; uniform; formal; as, a set discourse; a set battle. "The set phrase of peace." Shak.

Weak, poor, or flat liquor; weak, profitless discourse or writing.

Bland; mild; smoothing; fattering. This smooth discourse and mild behavior oft Conceal a traitor. Addison.

The act of talking to one's self; a discourse made by one in solitude to one's self; monologue. Lovers are always allowed the comfort of soliloquy. Spectator.