digression
nounUK /dʌɪˈɡɹɛʃən/ · US /daɪˈɡɹɛʃən/
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”).
An aside, an act of straying from the main subject in speech or writing.
- The lectures included lengthy digressions on topics ranging from the professor's dog to the meaning of life.
- 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 act of straying from the main subject in speech or writing, (rhetoric) particularly for rhetorical effect.
Generally uncountable
- make digression... by way of digression...
Obsolete 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:
Archaic 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:
Astronomy, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Physics 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:
- Synonyms
- digressio, ecbole
- Derived terms
- digressional, digressionary