discuss English · revision 4002

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1340|origins=la discutere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɪˈskʌs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|discussen]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|discussus]], the past participle of [[m|la|discutere|t=to dash to pieces, strike or shake apart]], in Late and Medieval Latin “to discuss, examine, investigate”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|dis-|t=apart]] and [[m|la|quatere|t=to shake]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) Barnhart considers that it may instead be a back-formation from [[discussion]].^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[quash]], [[concussion]] and [[percussion]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “To examine, investigate” a matter, or to try it as a judge: 1340 in the OED,^(OED 1989) the late 14th century in Etymonline^(Etymonline) and about 1380, in Wycliffe, in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense in Latin appears to have moved from “to smash apart” to “to scatter, disperse”, then, in post-classical times, through the mental process, to “to investigate” and finally “to debate”.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) In English it also meant “to drive away, disperse” (about 1374),^(OED 1989) in medicine of humours and tumours (1533),^(OED 1989) and “to settle as a judge” (about 1381); these senses are obsolete.^(OED 1989) “To examine by argument, debate”, the usual modern sense, is from the mid-15th century, implied in ''discussing'' (1448).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Johnson defined it as “to examine; to ventilate; to clear by disquisition”.^(Johnson 1755)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1340 – to examine, try.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1374 – to disperse.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1381 – to decide as a judge.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1448 – to debate.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1533 – to disperse humours.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To talk about with others; to [[debate]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To examine or consider a subject in speech or writing.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[discussable]]

+ * [[discusser]]

+ * [[overdiscuss]]

+ * [[prediscuss]]

+ * [[rediscuss]]

+ * [[discussant]]

+ * [[discussion]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[quash]]

+ * [[concussion]]

+ * [[percussion]]

+ * [[rescue]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage distinguishes discuss, close examination with an exchange of opinions, from argue, debate, dispute and contend.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}