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/daɪgrˈɛs/ Listen

verb

Digress v. i. (past & past part. digressed; pres. part. digressing)

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. "Moreover she beginneth to digress in latitude." "In 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."

To turn aside from the right path; to transgress; to offend. (R.) "Thy abundant goodness shall excuse This deadly blot on thy digressing son."

noun

Digress n. Digression. (Obs.)

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Etymology of 'Digress'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Digress" Quotes from Famous Books

... have to digress a little to give you the history of the name. Every effect has a cause you know, and after I got old enough to reason things out, I wondered too why my name was Gullins, so I did some investigating and the story ...

— Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States - Volume II. Arkansas Narratives. Part I • Work Projects Administration

... notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu's activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand. I shall deal with it in this place, begging you to bear with me if I seem to digress. ...

— The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu • Sax Rohmer

... other practitioners within my knowledge, and probably from the same incautious method of securing the variolous matter, I avail myself of this opportunity of mentioning what I conceive to be of great importance; and, as a further cautionary hint, I shall again digress so far as to add another observation ...

— The Harvard Classics Volume 38 - Scientific Papers (Physiology, Medicine, Surgery, Geology) • Various

... to be upon Thorns at this and the like impertinent Digressions, but let him alone and he'll come to himself; at which time I think fit to acquaint him, that when I digress, I am at that time writing to please my self, when I continue the Thread of the Story, I write to please him; supposing him a reasonable Man, I conclude him satisfied to allow me this liberty, ...

— Incognita - or, Love & Duty Reconcil'd. A Novel • William Congreve

... be pardoned, he is willing to hope, by the kind reader, if he digress in one or two paragraphs in this part of his work, purposely to expose the great wickedness of prognostication and fortune-telling; as the whole is not only unsound, foolish, absurd and false, but is most peremptorily forbidden ...

— The Gipsies' Advocate - or, Observations on the Origin, Character, Manners, and Habits of - The English Gipsies • James Crabb

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