Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DIS-COURSE', n. [discors; Fr. discours; L. discursus, from discurro, to ramble; dis and curro, to run; It. discorso.]

1. The act of the understanding, by which it passes from premises to consequences; the act which connects propositions, and deduces conclusions from them. – Johnson. Glanville. [This sense is now obsolete.]
2. Literally, a running over a subject in speech: hence, a communication of thoughts by words, either to individuals, to companies, or to public assembles. Discourse to an individual or to a small company is called conversation or talk; mutual interchange of thoughts; mutual intercourse of language. It is applied to the familiar communication of thoughts by an individual, or to the mutual communication of two or more. We say, I was pleased with his discourse, and he heard our discourse. The vanquished party with the victors joined, / Not wanted sweet discourse, the banquet of the mind. – Dryden.
3. Effusion of language; speech. – Locke.
4. A written treatise; a formal dissertation; as, the discourse of Plutarch on garrulity; of Cicero on old age.
5. A sermon, uttered or written. We say, an extemporaneous discourse, or a written discourse.