digressiveadj.
/dɪˈɡrɛsɪv/, /dʌɪˈɡrɛsɪv/, U.S. /daɪˈɡrɛsɪv/ 1. Characterized by digressing; diverging from the way or the subject; given to digression; of the nature of, or marked by, digression.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > copiousness > [adjective] > discursive or digressive
digressinga1535
exorbitant1534
discursive1598
solute1605
digressive?1611
excursive1673
rimble-ramble1690
land-loping1694
digressionary1741
parenthetic1782
uncentral1782
digressional1785
parenthetical1814
discursative1819
discursory1830
episodic1867
winding1887
?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xiv. 105 These digressive things Are such as you may well endure.
1641 ‘Smectymnuus’ Vindic. Answer Hvmble Remonstr. §2. 30 We will not make digressive excursions into new controversies.
1651 R. Baxter Plain Script. Proof Infants Church-membership & Baptism Apol. 15 I came not to satisfie the people..by digressive discourses..but to dispute with him.
1745 E. Haywood Female Spectator (1748) III. 310 But all this..is digressive of the subject I sat down to write upon.
1783 H. Blair Lect. Rhetoric 39 (Seagar) Pindar is perpetually digressive and fills up his poems with fables of the gods and heroes.
1874 T. Hardy Far from Madding Crowd I. xxvi. 285 That remark seems somewhat digressive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > [adjective] > turning aside from a course of action > that turns (one) aside
digressive?1611
?1611 G. Chapman in tr. Homer Iliads x. Argt. Then with digressive wiles they use their force on Rhesus' life.
Derivatives
diˈgressively adv. in a digressive manner.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > copiousness > [adverb] > discursively or digressively
discursively1640
ramblinglya1641
digressively1731
digressingly1864
1731–1800 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. Digressively, by way of Digression.
1768 Woman of Honor IV. 92 An example, which you will hardly think digressively introduced.
diˈgressiveness n. the quality of being digressive.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > copiousness > [noun] > discursiveness or digression
digressionc1374
adigression1483
divagation1560
discursion1561
digress1598
discursation1618
excursiveness1753
discursativeness1819
discursiveness1819
digressiveness1877
1877 ‘H. A. Page’ T. De Quincey: Life & Writings II. xix. 163 If it is to blame for not a little of his digressiveness, still it imparts to everything he does a bouquet.
1879 F. W. Farrar Life & Work St. Paul II. App. ix. 611 The digressiveness becomes more diffuse.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1896; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.?1611