Search the Dictionary

A discourse on, or an account of, heat. Whewell.

A form of the possessive case of the pronoun thou, now superseded in common discourse by your, the possessive of you, but maintaining a place in solemn discourse, in poetry, and in the usual language of the Friends, or Quakers.

To use the words thou and thee in discourse after the manner of the Friends. [R.]

Fig.: Something continued in a long course or tenor; a,s the thread of life, or of a discourse. Bp. Burnet.

Thread; continuous line. [Archaic] I resume the thrid of my discourse. Dryden.

A discourse or treatise upon the tides; that part of science which treats of tides. J. S. Mill.

ing to tire; exhausted; wearisome; fatiguing; tedious; as, a tiresome journey; a tiresome discourse. -- Tire"some*ly, adv. -- Tire"some*ness, n.

Discourse; fluency of speech or expression. Much tongue and much judgment seldom go together. L. Estrange.

The subject of any distinct portion of a discourse, or argument, or literary composition; also, the general or main subject of the whole; a matter treated of; a subject, as of conversation or of thought; a matter; a point; a head.

To treat anything in discourse, especially in a slight or casual manner; -- often with on or upon. If the antiquaries have touched upon it, they immediately quitted it. Addison.

The science which treats of poisons, their effects, antidotes, and recignition; also, a discourse or treatise on the science.

A written discourse or dissertation, generally of short extent; a short treatise, especially on practical religion. The church clergy at that writ the best collection of tracts against popery that ever appeared. Swift. Tracts for the Times. See Tractarian.

To discourse on; to handle in a particular manner, in writing or speaking; as, to treat a subject diffusely.

One who treats; one who handles, or discourses on, a subject; also, one who entertains.

Story; discourse. [R.] Shak.

A discourse or colloquy by three persons.

apitaka [Skr. Vinayapitsaka] , or Basket of Discipline; Suttapitaka [Pali] , or Basket of Discourses; and Abhidhammapitaka [Pali] , or Basket of Metaphysics.

Two;- nearly obsolete in common discourse, but used in poetry and burlesque. "Children twain." Chaucer. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Matt. v. 41. In twain, in halves; into two parts; asunder. When old winder split the rocks in twain. Dryden. -- Twain cloud. (Meteor.) Same as Cumulo-s…

An affected modulation of the voice; a kind of nasal sound. He has such a twang in his discourse. Arbuthnot.

A discourse or treatise on types.