a. [ Cf. F. discursif. See Discourse, and cf. Discoursive. ] 1. Passing from one thing to another; ranging over a wide field; roving; digressive; desultory. “Discursive notices.” De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ] The power he [ Shakespeare ] delights to show is not intense, but discursive. Hazlitt. [ 1913 Webster ] A man rather tacit than discursive. Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Reasoning; proceeding from one ground to another, as in reasoning; argumentative. [ 1913 Webster ] Reason is her being, Discursive or intuitive. Milton. -- Dis*cur"sive*ly, adv. -- Dis*cur"sive*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ] |