Verbal Advantage 6

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1. LEGERDEMAIN (LEJ-ur-duh-MAYN)

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Sleight of hand, a cleverly executed trick or deception.
Synonyms: magic, prestidigitation, thaumaturgy.
Etymology and usage: Legerdemain comes from a Middle French phrase "light ofhand." Today the word may refer specifically to adroitness with the hands, as inperforming magic tricks, to any display of clever skill and adroitness, or a cleverly
executed trick or deception. Spelling tip: There is no e at the end of legerdemain.

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2. PUERILE (PYOOR-ul or PYOO-ur-ul)

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NewLine Childish, immature, hence, foolish, silly. Etymology: Latin puerilis, youthful, from puer,a child.
Synonyms: ("childish or immature") infantile, juvenile, ("foolish or silly") inane,frivolous, asinine, fatuous, sophomoric, callow (Level 4, Word 30).
Corresponding nouns: puerilism, a psychiatric term for the abnormal appearance ofchildish behavior in an adult, puerility, childishness, immaturity, or in civil law, thestatus of a child between infancy and puberty.

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3. COMPLICITY (kuhm-PLIS-i-tee)

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Conspiracy, partnership in wrongdoing, criminal participation, direct association in guilt,the state of being an accomplice.N.B. This discussion distinguishes the words conspiracy, confederacy, collusion, andcomplicity, all of which refer to partnership or participation in disreputable or illegalactivities. It also explores a usage problem concerning the words connivance, feigningignorance of wrong doing, and connive, to feign ignorance of wrong doing.
Etymology and related words: Latin complicare, to fold up or fold together, the sourcealso of the words complicate and accomplice.

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4. TRANSMUTE (tranz-MYOOT)

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To transform, specifically, to change from one nature, form, or substance into another,
especially to a higher, better, or more refined one. Etymology: Prefix trans-, "across"or "beyond," and Latin mutare, to change. Literally, transmute means "to changeacross the board" or "to change something beyond what it is." 2

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5. ABSTRUSE [ab-STROOS]

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Difficult to understand, hard to grasp mentally, deep, profound, incomprehensible,unfathomable.
Synonyms: inscrutable (Level 3, Word 48), esoteric (Level 5, Word 29), occult,cryptic, enigmatic, arcane, recondite, acroamatic.
Antonyms: manifest, discernible (Level 3, Word 32), lucid (Level 3, Word 45),perspicuous.

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6. EDIFY (ED-i-fy)

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To instruct, improve, teach, enlighten, especially, to instruct or improve intellectually,morally, or spiritually.
Corresponding noun: edification, enlightenment, intellectual, moral, or spiritualimprovement.
Usage tip: Except when used humorously, the phrase "for your edification" shouldprobably be avoided, it has become cliché and often has a condescending overtone.

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7. SUPERCILIOUS (SOO-pur-SIL-ee-us)

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Haughty, proud, scornful, contemptuous, disdainful.
Etymology: Latin super-, over, above, and cilium, eyebrow, by derivation it means withraised eyebrows.

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8. DISSEMBLE (di-SEM-buul)

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To disguise, conceal under a false appearance, speak or behave hypocritically, cover upthe facts or one's true feelings or motives, mask under a pretense or deceptive manner.
Synonyms: feign, affect, simulate, camouflage, equivocate, prevaricate.

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9. VACUOUS (VAK-yoo-us)

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Empty, vacant, devoid of substance, interest, intelligence, expression, or meaning.
Synonyms: blank, unintelligent, shallow, stupid, senseless, inane, fatuous.
Corresponding noun: vacuity, emptiness, an absence of matter or intellectual content.
Etymology: Latin vacuus, empty.
Usage tip: Vacuous is not used where the words empty or vacant would be appropriate:an empty box or a vacant apartment cannot be described as vacuous. Vacuous usually
applies to a figurative lack of content, meaning, or interest: vacuous eyes, a vacuousdiscussion, a vacuous mind, a vacuous remark, a vacuous proposal. 3

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10. CAPACIOUS (kuh-PAY-shus)

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Roomy, spacious, ample, able to contain or hold a great deal.
Synonyms: When used literally, capacious is a synonym of spacious and roomy: acapacious house, their capacious office. When used figuratively, capacious is a
synonym of broad and comprehensive: a capacious intellect, a capacious view, acapacious treatment of a subject.

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11. MNEMONIC (ne-MAHN-ik)

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Helping or pertaining to the memory, assisting or improving the ability to recall.
Etymology and related words: Mnemonic comes from a Greek verb to remember, andby derivation means "mindful." In Greek mythology, Mnemosyne was the goddess ofmemory and the mother of the nine Muses who preside over literature, the arts, and thesciences. A mnemonic device is a memory-aid, something that helps one to remember.Mnemonics refers to any technique or system for improving the memory.

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12. SONOROUS (suh-NOR-us or SAHN-uh-rus)

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Resonant, deep, full, and rich in sound, having, or capable of producing, a powerful,impressive sound.

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13. ADMONISH (ad-MANN-ish)

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To warn or notify of a fault or error, especially in conduct or attitude, to criticize orreprove gently but earnestly.
Synonyms: advise, counsel, caution, apprise, exhort, expostulate.
Corresponding noun: admonishment, a gentle warning or mild criticism.
Etymology: Latin admonere, to warn, remind.

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14. PARADIGM (PAR-uh-dim or PAR-uh-dym)

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An example, model, or pattern.
Corresponding Adjective: paradigmatic, exemplary, typical, serving as a model orpattern. 4

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15. CIRCUITOUS (sur-KYOO-i-tus)

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Roundabout, indirect, not straightforward, following a roundabout and often extendedcourse.
Synonyms: devious, meandering, sinuous, tortuous, serpentine, labyrinthine (like alabyrinth or maze).
Etymology: The adjective circuitous is formed by adding the suffix -ous to the nouncircuit, a line or route that goes around and returns to where it started.

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16. VINDICATE (VIN-di-kayt)

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To clear from blame, free from suspicion of wrongdoing or dishonor, uphold or maintainthe truth or innocence of something or someone in the face of criticism or imputations ofguilt.
Corresponding noun: vindication.N.B. This discussion distinguishes the verbs vindicate, exonerate, and acquit, whichmean to free from blame.

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17. BUCOLIC (byoo-KAHL-ik)

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Rural, rustic, of or pertaining to country life.
Synonyms: pastoral, provincial, agrarian, idyllic, Arcadian.
Antonyms: urban, municipal, civic, metropolitan, cosmopolitan.
Etymology: Latin and Greek words meaning a herdsman, shepherd, ultimately fromthe Greek bous, an ox.

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18. OSTRACIZE (AHS-truh-syz)

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To banish, send into exile, expel from a place, to bar, exclude, or reject from a group orfrom acceptance by society.
Corresponding noun: ostracism, banishment.
Etymology and related word: Greek ostrakon, a potsherd, piece of broken pottery.Ostracism and petalism were forms of banishment employed by the ancient Greeks.Ostracism was practiced by the ancient Athenians, citizens would vote by writing thename of the person to be expelled on a potsherd or earthenware tablet, and banishmentwas for ten years. Petalism was practiced in ancient Syracuse, citizens would write thename of the person to be banished on an olive leaf, and the length of exile was five years. 5

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19. PLETHORA (PLETH-uh-ruh)

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An excess, surplus, overabundance, oversupply.
Synonyms: superabundance, profusion, superfluity, surfeit (Level 8, Word 49).
Antonyms: scarcity, insufficiency, dearth (Level 3, Word 12), paucity (Level 10, Word 2).
Etymology: Greek plethein, to be full.
Corresponding adjective: plethoric.
Pronunciation tip: Plethora is sometimes mispronounced ple-THOR-uh. Dictionaries
do not recognize ple-THOR-uh. Be sure to stress the first syllable: PLETH-uh-ruh.

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20. PROCLIVITY (pro-KLIV-i-tee)

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An inclination, liking, leaning, a strong natural bent or tendency, often towardsomething disagreeable, objectionable, or wicked.
Synonyms: partiality, penchant (Level 3, Word 9), predisposition, predilection (Level 8, Word 42), propensity.

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21. COMMENSURATE (kuh-MEN-shur-it)

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Proportionate, corresponding in amount, measure, or degree, also, equal, of the same sizeor extent.

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22. INCESSANT (in-SES-int)

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Constant, uninterrupted, continuous, unceasing.
Etymology: Incessant combines the privative prefix in-, not, and the Latin cessare, tostop, cease.
Synonyms: interminable, relentless, unremitting, continuous.
Antonyms: occasional, irregular, intermittent, incidental, sporadic, fitful, erratic.N.B. This discussion distinguishes the words continuous and continual, which are often
confused and misused. Continual means happening again and again at short intervals:continual reminders, continual attempts, continual laughter, the continual ringing of the
telephone. Continuous means uninterrupted or unbroken: continuous noise, continuousrain, a continuous effort, the continuous rotation of the earth. This discussion alsodistinguishes continuous and incessant, which are close synonyms.

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23. SYCOPHANT (SIK-uh-fint)

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A flatterer, parasite, toady, fawning follower, hanger-on.N.B. This discussion explores the curious (and still uncertain) history of the word toadyand sycophant.
Corresponding adjective: sycophantic (SIK-uh-FAN-tik).

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24. TANGENTIAL (tan-JEN-shul)

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Not closely related, only slightly connected, digressive, divergent.
Related word: tangent, (geometry) a line that touches a curve but does not intersect it,the phrase to go off on a tangent means to make an abrupt change of course (usually inspeech), diverge, digress. 7

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25. TENABLE (TEN-uh-buul)

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Defensible, reasonable, able to be defended, maintained, or upheld (as, a tenable law, atenable reason).
Etymology: Latin tenere, to hold, grasp.
Related words: tenaculum, a pointed, hooked instrument used in surgery for lifting andholding parts, such as blood vessels, tenacious, holding firmly (a tenacious grip, atenacious memory).
Antonym: untenable, indefensible.

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26. IMPALPABLE (im-PAL-puh-buul)

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Incapable of being felt or understood, not able to be perceived either by the sense oftouch or by the mind.
Synonyms: untouchable, imperceptible, intangible.
Antonyms: palpable, perceptible, manifest, tangible.
Etymology: Palpable and impalpable come from the Latin palpare, to touch or strokegently.
Related words: palpate, (medicine) to examine or explore by touch, palpation, the actof examining by touch.

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27. ODIOUS (OH-dee-us)

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Hateful, detestable, offensive, revolting, arousing strong dislike or aversion.
Synonyms: disgusting, obnoxious, objectionable, disagreeable, contemptible,repellent, repugnant, loathsome, abominable, abhorrent, heinous, opprobrious,flagitious, execrable.
Etymology and related word: Latin odiosus, hateful, from odium, hatred, the directsource of the English noun odium, hatred (usually hatred experienced or incurred ratherthan felt).
Corresponding noun: odiousness, the state or quality of being odious.
Usage tip: Be careful to distinguish the words odious and odorous both in spelling andusage. Odorous means emitting an odor, having a distinct aroma or smell. Odious meanshateful, detestable, revolting. Odorous armpits or odorous garbage may be odious, butthere is nothing odious about odorous flowers. 8

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28. UBIQUITOUS (yoo-BIK-wuh-tus)

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Existing or seeming to exist everywhere at the same time.
Antonym: nonexistent.
Synonyms: ever-present, universal, pervading, omnipresent.
Corresponding noun: ubiquity, the state of being or seeming to be everywhere at once,omnipresence.
Etymology: Latin ubique, everywhere.
Usage tip: Because few things other than the air we breathe can accurately be describedas ubiquitous, existing everywhere at the same time, ubiquitous is often used to meanseeming to exist everywhere at once, extremely widespread. Ubiquitous is also oftenused to achieve an exaggerated effect.

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29. RUMINATE (ROO-mi-nayt)

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To turn over in the mind, think about again and again, consider carefully or at length.
Synonyms: ponder, contemplate, meditate, deliberate, muse, cogitate, mull.
Etymology: Latin ruminare, to chew the cud, by derivation, ruminate means to chew thecud mentally, regurgitate a thought and turn it over and over in the mind.
Related words: ruminant, (zoology) an animal that chews its cud, (adjective) chewingthe cud, rumen, the first chamber of the multi-chambered stomachs of ruminant animals.
Additional useful word: mastication, the act of chewing.
Usage tip: Just as we often say that we chew on something, we often say that weruminate on something.

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30. REMUNERATION (ri-MYOO-nuh-RAY-shin)

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Payment, compensation, or reward.
Synonyms: reimbursement, recompense, consideration, indemnification, emolument(Level 8, Word 3).
Corresponding verb: remunerate, to pay or compensate for services rendered, troubletaken, or goods provided. 9

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31. PECCADILLO (PEK-uh-DIL-oh)

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A small sin, slight offense, minor fault or flaw.
Etymology: Peccadillo means literally "a small sin." It comes through Spanish andItalian ultimately from the Latin peccare, to make a mistake, blunder, sin.
Related words: peccant, guilty, sinful, culpable, peccable, liable to sin or do wrong, andimpeccable (Level 4, Word 40), incapable of sin, unable to do wrong-hence, free from allfaults or imperfections.
Synonyms: failing, frailty, foible (Level 3, Word 23).
Spelling and usage tip: The plural may be spelled either peccadilloes or peccadillos.

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32. SUPINE (soo-PYN)

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Lying down on the back, with the face turned upward.
Etymology: Latin supinus, lying on the back with the face up.N.B. This discussion distinguishes the words supine, prone, prostrate, recumbent,which denote lying down in various ways.
Usage tip: Be careful not to confuse the adjective prostrate with the noun prostate.Prostrate means lying flat, stretched out, either on the back (supine) or the belly(prone). Prostate denotes the gland in men that contributes to the production of semenand helps control urination.

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33. BANAL (BAY-nul or buh-NAL)

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Common, ordinary, unoriginal, flat, dull, and predictable, lacking freshness or zest.
Synonyms: trite, commonplace, conventional, humdrum, hackneyed, shopworn,stereotyped, insipid, vapid, bromidic.
Antonyms: creative, imaginative, unconventional, unorthodox, ingenious, innovative,novel, pithy.
Corresponding noun: banality, the quality or state of being common, ordinary, andunoriginal.
Pronunciation tip: Most educated speakers pronounce banal either BAY-nul (rhymingwith anal) or buh-NAL (rhyming with canal). The variant buh-NAHL is less frequentlyheard, it is more common among British speakers. The variant BAN-al, preferred byseveral early 20th-century authorities, is nearly obsolete.

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34. HETERODOX (HET-ur-uh-dahks)

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Having or expressing an opinion different from the accepted opinion, not in agreementwith established doctrine or belief.
Corresponding noun: heterodoxy, an opinion or belief contrary to what is accepted andestablished.
Antonym: orthodox, agreeing with established opinion, adhering to accepted beliefs.
Etymology: The prefix hetero- means other, different, unlike, the -dox in heterodoxcomes from the Greek doxa, an opinion, which in turn comes from the verb dokein, tothink.
Related words: doxy, an opinion or doctrine, especially a religious opinion, doxastic,pertaining to opinion or to the formation of an opinion doxology, (Christian worship) anexpression of praise to God, usually in the form of a brief hymn or chant.
Additional useful information: The prefix ortho- means right, upright, proper, orcorrect. It appears in orthodontics, the dental specialty c correcting irregularities of theteeth, orthoscopic, having normal or correct vision, orthography, correct spelling, andorthoepy, the study of the proper pronunciation of words (pronounced OR-thoh-ep-ee oror-THOH-uh-pee).N.B. This discussion concludes by distinguishing heterodox and heretical.

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35. GRANDILOQUENT (gran-DIL-uh-kwint)

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Characterized by lofty, high-flown language, full of grand or high-sounding words.
Synonyms: bombastic, grandiose, florid, turgid.
Antonyms: plain-spoken, forthright, unaffected, candid.
Etymology and related words: Grandiloquent combines the word grand with thesuffix -iloquent, which comes from the Latin loqui, to speak. By derivation,grandiloquent means speaking in a grand manner. The Latin loqui is also the source ofloquacious, talkative, and colloquial (Level 5, Word 43), pertaining to informal speechor conversation.
Additional grandiloquent words: English has more than twenty words that incorporatethe suffix -iloquent and designate different ways of speaking. This discussion covers the
following selection: magniloquent, speaking pompously, using grand or high-flownlanguage (magniloquent and grandiloquent are virtually interchangeable),multiloquent, using many words, talking up a storm, breviloquent, speaking briefly,suaviloquent, speaking in an urbane, sophisticated manner, doctiloquent, speaking likea scholar or an expert on some subject, sanctiloquent, speaking solemnly or of sacredmatters, somniloquent, talking in one's sleep.

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36. LUGUBRIOUS (luh-GOO-bree-us)

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Mournful and gloomy, expressing sadness or sorrow, often in an exaggerated, affected, orridiculous way.
Synonyms: dismal, melancholy, dreary, funereal, doleful, dolorous, disconsolate,plaintive, woeful, lachrymose, saturnine.
Antonyms: cheerful, jubilant, joyous, gleeful, mirthful, jovial (Level 5, Word 19),sanguine.
Etymology: Latin lugere, to mourn or lament.
Corresponding noun: lugubriousness.
Corresponding adverb: lugubriously.

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37. INFINITESIMAL (IN-fin-i-TES-i-mul)

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Too small to be measured or calculated.
Synonyms: tiny, minute, microscopic, minuscule.N.B. This discussion explores in detail the pronunciation, spelling, and history of theword minuscule. The traditional pronunciation is mi-NUHS-kyool, now also acceptableis MIN-i-skyool. Take care not to misspell minuscule as minuscule (an erroneousreflection of the pronunciation MIN-i-skyool). There is no mini- in minuscule.
Usage tip: In precise usage, infinitesimal is not interchangeable with tiny, minute, andminuscule, which mean very small, and microscopic, which means too small to be seenwithout a microscope. Properly, infinitesimal means too small to be measured or
calculated. Loose usage: Scientists detected an infinitesimal amount of mercury and lead
in the city's tap water. Precise usage: In a test of the city's tap water, scientistsdetermined that if mercury and lead were present, the amounts were infinitesimal.

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38. GOAD (GOHD, rhymes with road)

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To prod or urge to action, stimulate, arouse, stir up.
Synonyms: egg on, spur, incite, impel, instigate.
Antonyms: soothe, pacify, appease, assuage (Level 2, Word 37), mollify.
Corresponding noun: goad, a pointed stick used to prod animals and get them to move,figuratively, a stimulus, spur, incitement, anything that urges or drives something on.

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39. MALINGER (muh-LING-gur)

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To pretend to be sick or incapacitated so as to avoid work or duty, to shirk or dodgeresponsibility by feigning illness or inability.
Usage tip: Don't be misled by the presence of the word linger in malinger, which doesnot mean to linger, loiter, or hang around in a shiftless or threatening way.
Related word: malady, an illness or affliction. Corresponding noun: malingerer, aperson who malingers.

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40. AVER (uh-VUR)

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To state positively, declare with confidence.
Synonyms: assert, affirm, avow, profess, contend, asseverate.N.B. This discussion distinguishes the verbs to state, declare, assert, asseverate, affirm,and aver.

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41. CACOPHONY (kuh-KAHF-uh-nee)

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A harsh, jarring sound, especially a harsh and unpleasant blend of sounds.
Synonyms: dissonance, discord, disharmony, stridency.
Antonyms: silence, tranquility, serenity, placidity, quiescence.
Corresponding adjective: cacophonous, having a harsh, unpleasant, jarring sound.Synonyms of cacophonous include dissonant, discordant, raucous, and strident
Etymology: Greek kakos, bad, and phone, sound.
Additional useful information: The Greek phone, sound, occurs in a number of Englishwords, including phonetic, pertaining to or representing the sounds of speech, symphony,which means literally "sounding together", and telephone, which by derivation means "avoice from afar."The Greek kakos, bad, is the source of the English prefix caco-, which appears in front of
a number of English words to mean "bad" or "wrong." Examples: cacography, badwriting, cacology, bad speaking or a bad choice of words, cacoepy, bad pronunciation (asopposed to orthoepy, good pronunciation), caconym, a bad or erroneous name, cacodoxy,a bad or unacceptable opinion (cacodoxy is a synonym of heterodoxy), cacoeconomy, badeconomy or bad management, and cacoëthes (KAK-oh-EE-theez), a bad habit, incurableitch, or an insatiable urge or desire.

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42. REFRACTORY (ri-FRAK-tur-ee)

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Stubborn and disobedient, actively resisting authority or control, unruly, impossible towork with or manage.
Synonyms: willful, headstrong, ungovernable, rebellious, obstinate (Level 1, Word 34), intractable (Level 5, Word 12), perverse, recalcitrant, intransigent,contumacious.
Antonyms: obedient, submissive, compliant, deferential, malleable (Level 2, Word 29), docile, tractable, acquiescent, obsequious.N.B. This discussion distinguishes the words refractory, intractable, contumacious,intransigent, and recalcitrant, all of which suggest stubborn resistance to control.

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43. ICONOCLAST (eye-KAHN-uh-klast)

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A person who attacks cherished or popular beliefs, traditions, or institutions, someonewho destroys or denounces an established idea or practice.
Etymology: Greek eikonoklastes, an imagebreaker, a person who smashes icons orimages.
Synonyms: radical, extremist, insurgent, firebrand.
Corresponding adjective: iconoclastic, attacking or opposing established or popularbeliefs, customs, or institutions.

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44. ENERVATE (EN-ur-vayt)

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To weaken, drain of energy, deprive of force or vigor.
Synonyms: exhaust, deplete, devitalize, debilitate.
Antonyms: energize, invigorate, stimulate, revive, enliven, animate, vitalize, fortify.N.B. Because enervate sounds like energize, many people are tempted to think the words
are synonymous when in fact they are antonyms. Take care to distinguish these words: toenergize is to infuse with energy, invigorate, to enervate is to weaken, drain of energy.
Corresponding adjective: enervated, lacking energy, drained of vitality or strength.

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45. LEVITY (LEV-i-tee)

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Lightness or gaiety of manner or expression, specifically, a lightness or lack ofseriousness that is inappropriate or unbecoming.
Etymology and related words: Latin levitas, lightness, from levis, light, the source alsoof levitate and levitation.
Synonyms: silliness, foolishness, frivolity, flippancy, tomfoolery, triviality, jocularity.
Antonyms: seriousness, earnestness, sobriety, solemnity, gravity.

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46. EQUANIMITY (EE-kwuh-NIM-i-tee)

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Composure, calmness, evenness of mind and temper.
Etymology: French, through the Latin aequanimitas, calmness, ultimately from aequus,even or level, and animus, mind or spirit.
Synonyms: poise, self-possession, serenity, tranquility, placidity, imperturbability,sangfroid (saw(n)-FWAH).N.B. This discussion distinguishes the words equanimity and composure.

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47. STRICTURE (STRIK-chur)

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A criticism, critical comment, especially an unfavorable or hostile observation orremark.
Etymology and related words: Latin strictus, past participle of the verb stringere, todraw tight, bind, the source also of the English words strict and stringent, which meanstight, constricted, or rigorous and severe.
Synonyms: reproof, censure, condemnation, disapprobation, castigation,objurgation, animadversion.
Antonyms: praise, compliment, commendation, acclamation, plaudit.
Additional useful information: Plaudit, applause, and applaud all come from theLatin plaudere, to clap the hands, express approval. A plaudit is an enthusiasticexpression of approval or praise.
Usage tip: Stricture is a noun, not a verb. You cannot stricture something, but if youhave an unfavorable opinion of a person or a thing, you can express your strictures,sharp criticisms or hostile remarks.

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48. OPULENT (AHP-yuh-lint)

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Rich, wealthy, very well-to-do, having substantial means.
Etymology: Latin opulentus, rich, wealthy, and opis, power, might, ultimately fromOps, the ancient Roman goddess of the harvest and the wife of Saturn, the god ofagriculture who presided over the sowing of the fields.
Antonyms: indigent, destitute, impecunious. These words are distinguished in thediscussion of indigent (Level 3, Word 39).N.B. This discussion distinguishes the adjectives opulent, affluent, and prosperous,which connote wealth and success.
Corresponding noun: opulence, great wealth or a display of great wealth.

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49. DISPARAGE (di-SPAR-ij)

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To belittle, depreciate, discredit, lower in estimation or value, speak of or treat as inferior.
Synonyms: abuse, ridicule, scorn, slander, defame, censure (Level 3, Word 28),denigrate, malign, vilify, traduce, calumniate.
Etymology and related words: Disparage comes from an Old French verb that meant tomarry unequally, marry a person who was not a peer or on a par with your rank insociety. Disparage is related to the noun peer, an equal, a person of equal status. Peercomes from the Latin par, equal, the source of the English par, which is perhaps mostoften heard in the phrase "on a par with," on an equal footing.
Corresponding adjective: disparaging.
Corresponding noun: disparagement.

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50. DISCURSIVE (dis-KUR-siv)

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Rambling, roving, covering a wide range of topics, wandering from one subject toanother.N.B. Don't be confused by the presence of the word cursive in discursive. Discursivehas nothing to do either with cursing or with cursive script, in which the letters are joinedor flow together.
Etymology and usage: Latin discursus, running about, the past participle of the verbdiscurrere, to run to and fro or in different directions. In modern usage, discursiveapplies to speech or writing that runs to and fro or in many different directions.
Synonyms: desultory (DES-ul-tor-ee), digressive. This discussion distinguishes thesesynonyms from the key word, discursive.