Digress

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: di + gress
• IPA: /daɪˈɡɹɛs/
• Rhymes: -É›s

Origin

From Latin digressum, past participle of digredi.

Full definition of digress

Verb

1. (intransitive) To step or turn aside; to deviate; to swerve; especially, to turn aside from the main subject of attention, or course of argument, in writing or speaking.
• HollandMoreover she beginneth to digress in latitude.
• John LockeIn the pursuit of an argument there is hardly room to digress into a particular definition as often as a man varies the signification of any term.
2. (intransitive) To turn aside from the right path; to transgress; to offend.
• ShakespeareThy abundant goodness shall excuse
  This deadly blot on thy digressing son.

Synonyms

• (turn from the course of argument) sidetrack

Related terms

• digression
• digressive
• excursive