Dictionary

digression en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /daɪˈɡɹɛʃən/ (Canada, US)
• audio Multicultural British English
• (Texas) audio
• /dɪˈɡɹɛʃən/ (UK)
• /dʌɪˈɡɹɛʃən/ (UK)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Old French digressiun or disgressiun, from Latin dīgressiōnem, from dīgressus + -iō (suffix forming abstract nouns from verbs), the past passive participle of dīgredior (“to step away, to digress”), from dis- + gradior (“to step, walk, go”).

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) An aside, an act of straying from the main subject in speech or writing.
   • History tells us stodgy, cautious stuff, cardigan-football is the way to go here. The 1966 World Cup kicked off with 0-0 draw against Uruguay so tedious the Guardian match report contains a whimsical digression on the writer’s urge to drift off to sleep in the second half. 2022 November 21, Barney Ronay, “Iran’s brave and powerful gesture is a small wonder from a World Cup of woe”, in The Guardian:
   • The lectures included lengthy digressions on topics ranging from the professor's dog to the meaning of life.
2. (countable, qualifier:generally uncountable, uncountable) The act of straying from the main subject in speech or writing, (rhetoric) particularly for rhetorical effect.
   • make digression... by way of digression...
3. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) A deviancy, a sin or error, an act of straying from the path of righteousness or a general rule.
   • Nature... More stronger hadde her operacyon Than she hath nowe in her dygressyon. 1517, Stephen Hawes, Pastime of Pleasure, i, ll. 12 ff:
4. (archaic, countable, uncountable) A deviation, an act of straying from a path.
   • By this little digression into Gascony, the Duke had an opportunity... to re-inforce himself with some particular Servants of his. 1670, Guillaume Girard, translated by Charles Cotton, History of the Life of the Duke of Espernon, Bk. i, Ch. iv, p. 144:
5. (countable, uncountable) An elongation, a deflection or deviation from a mean position or expected path.
   • This digression [of the Sun] is not equall, but neare the Æquinoxiall intersections, it is right and greater, near the Solstices, more oblique and lesser. 1646, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica, Bk. VI, Ch. iv, p. 288:

Forms

Deriveds

digressionary · digressional

Relateds

detour · digress

Synonyms

ecbole (rhetorical device) · digressio (rhetorical device)

Translations (38)

es digresión (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · hi विषयांतर (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · it digressione (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · de Exkurs (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · nl uitweiding (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · tl kaliklikan (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · ro digresiune (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · hy խոտորում (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · fi poikkeaminen (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · grc ἐκβολή (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · fi syrjähyppy (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · sv utsvävning (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · hi विषयांतरण (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · ca digressió (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · da sidespring (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · de Umschweif (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · de Abschweifung (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · la dīgressiō (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · cs odbočka (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · hy շեղում (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · pt digressão (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · hu eltérés (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · fr digression (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · sv avvikelse (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · is útúrdúr (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · da afvigelse (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · tr uzaklaşma (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · tr arasöz (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · pl dygresja (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · bg отклонение (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · pl wtrącenie (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · es disquisición (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · grc παρεκβολή (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · gd taobh-cheum (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · ru отступле́ние (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · ru отклоне́ние (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · fi poikkeama (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing) · es divagación (a departure from the main subject in speech or writing)