Crossword clues for digression
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Digression \Di*gres"sion\, n. [L. digressio: cf. F. digression.]
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The act of digressing or deviating, esp. from the main subject of a discourse; hence, a part of a discourse deviating from its main design or subject.
The digressions I can not excuse otherwise, than by the confidence that no man will read them.
--Sir W. Temple. -
A turning aside from the right path; transgression; offense. [R.]
Then my digression is so vile, so base, That it will live engraven in my face.
--Shak. (Anat.) The elongation, or angular distance from the sun; -- said chiefly of the inferior planets. [R.]
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Wiktionary
n. A departure from the subject, course, or idea at hand; an exploration of a different or unrelated concern.
WordNet
n. a message that departs from the main subject [syn: aside, excursus, divagation, parenthesis]
a turning aside (of your course or attention or concern); "a diversion from the main highway"; "a digression into irrelevant details"; "a deflection from his goal" [syn: diversion, deviation, deflection, deflexion, divagation]
wandering from the main path of a journey [syn: excursion]
Wikipedia
Digression (parekbasis in Greek, egressio, digressio and excursion in Latin) is a section of a composition or speech that marks a temporary shift of subject; the digression ends when the writer or speaker returns to the main topic. Digressions can be used intentionally as a stylistic or rhetorical device.
In classical rhetoric since Corax of Syracuse, especially in Institutio Oratoria of Quintilian, the digression was a regular part of any oration or composition. After setting out the topic of a work and establishing the need for attention to be given, the speaker or author would digress to a seemingly disconnected subject before returning to a development of the composition's theme, a proof of its validity, and a conclusion. A schizothemia is a digression by means of a long reminiscence.
Cicero was a master of digression, particularly in his ability to shift from the specific question or issue at hand (the hypothesis) to the more general issue or question that it depended upon (the thesis). As was the case with most ancient orators, Cicero's apparent digression always turned out to bear directly upon the issue at hand. During the Second Sophistic (in Imperial Rome), the ability to guide a speech away from a stated theme and then back again with grace and skill came to be a mark of true eloquence.
Usage examples of "digression".
From this species of digression we come back to the narrative of public events, and the history of the great series of battles which were to make the banks of the Chickahominy historic ground.
Chapter 13 A dialogue between Jones and Partridge The honest lovers of liberty will, we doubt not, pardon that long digression into which we were led at the close of the last chapter, to prevent our history from being applied to the use of the most pernicious doctrine which priestcraft had ever the wickedness or the impudence to preach.
I shall try to go through the rest of my description of our boarders with as little of digression as is consistent with my nature.
At the risk of a tedious but very essential digression, something must be said here as to the motives with which the Boers had for many years been quietly preparing for war.
Besides, we did agree that before we went into any lengthy digressions I should hear your entire history.
Grateful digressions, and solve high dispute With conjugal caresses: from his lips Not words alone pleased her.
Lady Antonia, too, sends her devoted greetings, but is of opinion that these books by her son are of no interest at all to the Emperor, except the twelfth volume which contains a very curious digression which will, she trusts, immediately interest him.
After this long digression, with which the reader may not be very well pleased, it is time for me to return to my sweetheart.
I hope the reader will pardon this digression, which is not without interest.
This is a long digression, and I will now return to Father Stratico, who made the time pass so pleasantly for me.
Benjamin had not really intended it that way, had left the three viewgraphs out because they seemed a minor digression of little interest to the hard-nosed astrophysicists who made up most of the audience.
The motto I have adopted justifies my digressions, and all the commentaries, perhaps too numerous, in which I indulge upon my various exploits: 'Nequidquam sapit qui sibi non sapit'.
After this digression (it may be too long, but that is my business and none other's), I must confess that never have I had so unpleasant a truth to set down as that which I am going to relate.
Originally I intended Anticipations to be my sole digression from my art or trade (or what you will) of an imaginative writer.
We are left to guess at the full extent of his sexual delinquencies, though in one haunting digression Spunk pays a 'charitable' visit to an orphanage with his mother: in a series of tight close-ups we see him doling out candy bars as he gooses and fondles the staring waifs.