What is "in the course of"

Course \Course\ (k[=o]rs), n. [F. cours, course, L. cursus, fr. currere to run. See Current.]

1. The act of moving from one point to another; progress; passage.

   And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais.
   --Acts xxi. 7.

2. The ground or path traversed; track; way.

   The same horse also run the round course at Newmarket.
   --Pennant.

3. Motion, considered as to its general or resultant direction or to its goal; line progress or advance.

   A light by which the Argive squadron steers Their silent course to Ilium's well known shore.
   --Dennham.

   Westward the course of empire takes its way.
   --Berkeley.

4. Progress from point to point without change of direction; any part of a progress from one place to another, which is in a straight line, or on one direction; as, a ship in a long voyage makes many courses; a course measured by a surveyor between two stations; also, a progress without interruption or rest; a heat; as, one course of a race.

5. Motion considered with reference to manner; or derly progress; procedure in a certain line of thought or action; as, the course of an argument.

   The course of true love never did run smooth.
   --Shak.

6. Customary or established sequence of events; recurrence of events according to natural laws.

   By course of nature and of law.
   --Davies.

   Day and night, Seedtime and harvest, heat and hoary frost, Shall hold their course.
   --Milton.

7. Method of procedure; manner or way of conducting; conduct; behavior.

   My lord of York commends the plot and the general course of the action.
   --Shak.

   By perseverance in the course prescribed.
   --Wodsworth.

   You hold your course without remorse.
   --Tennyson.

8. A series of motions or acts arranged in order; a succession of acts or practices connectedly followed; as, a course of medicine; a course of lectures on chemistry.

9. The succession of one to another in office or duty; order; turn.

   He appointed . . . the courses of the priests
   --2 Chron. viii. 14.

10. That part of a meal served at one time, with its accompaniments.

    He [Goldsmith] wore fine clothes, gave dinners of several courses, paid court to venal beauties.
    --Macaulay.

11. (Arch.) A continuous level range of brick or stones of the same height throughout the face or faces of a building.
    --Gwilt.

12. (Naut.) The lowest sail on any mast of a square-rigged vessel; as, the fore course, main course, etc.

13. pl. (Physiol.) The menses.

    In course, in regular succession.

    Of course, by consequence; as a matter of course; in regular or natural order.

    In the course of, at same time or times during. ``In the course of human events.''
    --T. Jefferson.

    Syn: Way; road; route; passage; race; series; succession; manner; method; mode; career; progress.