What does discursiveness mean?
Discursiveness is the quality of ranging widely from one subject to another without following a single, direct line of thought. It describes speech or writing that digresses — pausing for asides, anecdotes, and tangents before, or instead of, reaching a destination. The word derives ultimately from the Latin verb discurrere, 'to run about', the same root behind discourse and excursion. In critical usage, discursiveness is double-edged: reviewers may deplore it when it signals a lack of rigor, yet celebrate it when it conveys wit, erudition, or the pleasurable looseness of a lively mind. It appears most often in formal contexts such as literary criticism, philosophy, and reviews of lectures or essays. Related forms include the adjective discursive and the adverb discursively, while a close synonym is digressiveness.
nounThe quality of moving from topic to topic without a fixed course or central purpose; the tendency of speech or writing to digress and wander rather than proceed directly to a conclusion.
- The quality of being digressive or rambling in speech or writing, moving from topic to topic without a clear line of argument.
"Her essay's discursiveness made it a delight to read, even if its argument was hard to pin down."
"The professor's discursiveness was legendary — a fifty-minute lecture on economics might end with an anecdote about medieval beekeeping."
"Critics admired the novel's energy but complained that its discursiveness obscured the central plot."
Almost always used as an uncountable mass noun; a plural form exists grammatically but is rare and generally avoided.
"The book's many discursivenesses test the reader's patience."
At its root, discursiveness literally means 'running apart' — the same Latin verb that gives us 'cursor' and 'excursion' describes a mind that keeps sprinting off in new directions.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of discursiveness
Discursiveness is formed from the adjective discursive plus the noun-forming suffix -ness. Discursive comes from Medieval Latin discursivus, derived from Latin discurrere ('to run about, run in different directions'), a compound of dis- ('apart') and currere ('to run'). The adjective entered English around the late 16th century, and the noun discursiveness followed shortly thereafter. The same Latin root currere also yields cognates such as excursion, cursory, and discourse itself.
Related word forms
How discursiveness is actually used
A formal, literary word used chiefly in criticism and academic prose to describe style rather than character. It often carries a mildly negative connotation — suggesting lack of discipline — though it can be used approvingly for conversational charm or intellectual breadth.
Easily confused with discursiveness
Discussion refers to a structured conversation or treatment of a topic, whereas discursiveness is the quality of straying aimlessly from one topic to another.