discursive Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite proceeding to a conclusion by reason or argument rather than intuition
    dianoetic.
  2. adjective satellite (of e.g. speech and writing) tending to depart from the main point or cover a wide range of subjects
    excursive; digressive; rambling.
    • amusingly digressive with satirical thrusts at women's fashions among other things
    • a rambling discursive book
    • his excursive remarks
    • a rambling speech about this and that

WordNet

Dis*cur"sive adjective
Etymology
Cf. F. discursif. See Discourse, and cf. Discoursive.
Definitions
  1. Passing from one thing to another; ranging over a wide field; roving; digressive; desultory. "Discursive notices." De Quincey.
    The power he [Shakespeare] delights to show is not intense, but discursive. Hazlitt.
    A man rather tacit than discursive. Carlyle.
  2. Reasoning; proceeding from one ground to another, as in reasoning; argumentative.
    Reason is her being, Discursive or intuitive. Milton.
    -- Dis*cur"sive*ly, adv. -- Dis*cur"sive*ness, n.

Webster 1913