† diˈscoursive, a. Obs.
[f. discourse v. + -ive: cf. discursive, which follows Latin analogies.]
1. Of or pertaining to ‘discourse’ or reason; having the power of reasoning; rational.
| 1594 Carew Huarte's Exam. Wits (1616) 60 Vnderstood of the faculties or reasonable wits, which are discoursiue and actiue. 1645 Rutherford Tryal & Tri. Faith (1845) 286 The prime faculty, reason, the discoursive power. 1649 Davenant Love & Honour i. Dram. Wks. 1873 III. 109 The brute herd..though they want Discoursive soul, are less inhuman far than he. 1678 Lively Orac. ii. §62. 261 He must be suppos'd..to have given men discoursive faculties. |
b. Proceeding by reasoning, argumentative.
| 1588 J. Harvey (title), Discoursive Probleme concerning Prophesies. 1592 Nashe P. Penilesse (ed. 2) 22 a, Hee fell into a discoursive consideration, what this world was. a 1652 J. Smith Sel. Disc. iv. 94 All such actions..we know, without any great store of discoursive inquiry, to attribute to their own proper causes. 1753 L. M. tr. Du Boscq's Accomplish'd Woman i. 221 Fortune gives kingdoms, but art no more than discoursive knowledge and science. |
2. Passing from one thing to another, discursive.
| 1592 Davies Immort. Soul viii. xi. (1714) 52 His sight is not discoursive, by degrees; But seeing the whole, each single Part doth see. 1613 W. Browne Sheph. Pipe vii. (R.) Thou..In thy discoursive thought, dost range as farre. |
3. Disposed or ready to discourse or converse; talkative; conversable, communicative.
| 1605 Daniel Philotas Poems (1717) 321 See how these vain Discoursive Bookmen talk. 1642 Howell For. Trav. (Arb.) 30 The one Discoursive and Sociable, the other Reserved and Thoughtfull. 1669 Wood Life (Oxf. H.S.) II. 169 He found him a complaisant man, very free and discoursive. |
b. Of the nature of discourse or dialogue; conversational.
| a 1592 Marlowe & Nashe Dido i. (Rtldg.) 254/2 But thou art gone, and leav'st me here alone, To dull the air with my discoursive moan. c 1645 Howell Lett. (1650) III. ix. 17 You promised a further expression of your self by way of a Discoursive Letter what you thought of Copernicus opinion. 1668 Dryden Ess. Dram. Poesy in Arb. Garner III. 567 For the Epic way is euery where interlaced with Dialogue or Discoursive Scenes. 1716 M. Davies Athen. Brit. iii. Crit. Hist. 111 The Editioning of..Ancient Authors, without any..long discoursive Comments, or long-winded Sententions-Notes. |