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An high look and a proud heart . . . is sin. Prov. xxi. 4. His forces, after all the high discourses, amounted really but to eighteen hundred foot. Clarendon.

A discourse on history. Cockeram.

or plan upon which one is constantly setting off; a favorite and ever-recurring theme of discourse, thought, or effort; that which occupies one's attention unduly, or to the weariness of others; a ruling passion. [Usually under the form hobby.] Not one of them has any hobbyhorse, to use the phrase of Sterne. Macaulay.…

A discourse or sermon read or pronounced to an audience; a serious discourse. Shak.

aking; vivid descriptions presenting or suggesting images of sensible objects; figures in discourse. I wish there may be in this poem any instance of good imagery. Dryden.

To hold discourse; to parley. [Obs.] Sir. T. North.

Mutual discourse; conference. [Obs.]

zeal; showing warmth of feeling; ardent; animated; excited; as, an impassioned orator or discourse.

tion and feeling, to touch the sensibilities, or affect the conscience; as, an impressive discourse; an impressive scene.

good account; practical application, as of a doctrine, principle, or theory, stated in a discourse. "A good improvement of his reason." S. Clarke. I shall make some improvement of this doctrine. Tillotson.

proved equal to another by showing that it can be neither greater nor less. -- Indirect discourse. (Gram.) See Direct discourse, under Direct. -- Indirect evidence, evidence or testimony which is circumstantial or inferential, but without witness; -- opposed to direct evidence. -- Indirect tax, a tax, such as custo…

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

to 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.

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

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

ed 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.

as, 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 fro…

are; 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.