digression

Definition

An aside, an act of straying from the main subject in speech or writing.

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”).

Example Sentences

• "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."
• "make digression... by way of digression..."

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