Search the Dictionary

Consisting of, or having the nature of, dialogue; conversational. Interlocutory discourses in the Holy Scriptures. Fiddes.

o involve; to make perplexing. [Obs.] It makes men troublesome, and intricates all wise discourses. Jer. Taylor.

That part of a book or discourse which introduces or leads the way to the main subject, or part; preliminary; matter; preface; proem; exordium.

ject or business; preliminary; prefatory; as, introductory proceedings; an introductory discourse.

To complicate or make intricate, as in grammatical structure. "Involved discourses." Locke.

me. Job xix. 19. He had had occasion, by one very inward with him, to know in part the discourse of his life. Sir P. Sidney.

, to go at large; to be left at large. (b) Diffusely; fully; in the full extent; as, to discourse on a subject at large. -- Common at large. See under Common, n. -- Electors at large, Representative at large, electors, or a representative, as in Congress, chosen to represent the whole of a State, in distinction from…

To strike with a lash ; to whip or scourge with a lash, or with something like one. We lash the pupil, and defraud the ward. Dryden.

e; mean; -- used literally and figuratively; as, the lean harvest; a lean purse; a lean discourse; lean wages. "No lean wardrobe." Shak. Their lean and fiashy songs. Milton. What the land is, whether it be fat or lean. Num. xiii. 20. Out of my lean and low ability I'll lend you something. Shak.

A discourse on any subject; especially, a formal or methodical discourse, intended for instruction; sometimes, a familiar discourse, in contrast with a sermon.

Having length; rather long or too long; prolix; not brief; -- said chiefly of discourses, writings, and the like. "Lengthy periods." Washington. "Some lengthy additions." Byron. "These would be details too lengthy." Jefferson. "To cut short lengthy explanations." Trench.

A minute and tedious discourse on trifling things.

Speech or discourse; a phrase; a form or mode of expression. " Stumbling locutions." G. Eliot. I hate these figures in locution, These about phrases forced by ceremony. Marston.

A combining form denoting a discourse, treatise, doctrine, theory, science; as, theology, geology, biology, mineralogy.

Instructive discourse. [Obs.] Spenser.

The quality of being magniloquent; pompous discourse; grandiloquence.

Speaking pompously; using swelling discourse; bombastic; tumid in style; grandiloquent. -- Mag*nil"o*quent*ly, adv.

A vain, unprofitable discourse or inquiry. [R.]

weighty character; not insubstantial; of cinsequence; not be dispensed with; important. Discourse, which was always material, never trifling. Evelyn. I shall, in the account of simple ideas, set down only such as are most material to our present purpose. Locke.

A part of a discourse or of a period or sentence; a clause; a part of a verse.