What does "excurse" mean?
Synonym of excursus.
Excurse
noun, verb
noun, verb ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Synonym of excursus.
- Grammar: excurse is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: depart, deviate, digress, digression.
- Usage evidence: In which of the nine hundred ſtreets—I mean lanes—of this capital of the world—for who can diſpute a Pariſian’s word, who never has excurſed beyond the gates?
How to use "excurse"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "excurse" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "excurse" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "excurse" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "excurse" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "excurse" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "depart" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "excurse", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Synonym of excursus.
"By the labors of the Bridgewater writers, the argument has been cleared of many extraneous and unnecessary excurses."
- 2 An act of moving or rushing forward or out; an incursion by troops. obsolete
"Ad hæc fratetnitati^([sic]) tuæ præcipiendo modo quo te in Cantuarienſem Eccleſiam recipias, & paucis quidem clericis retêtis admodū neceſſariis, ad minus quam poteris per terram illam diſcurras."
Verb
- 1 To make a journey, especially an excursion; to travel. archaic, intransitive, rare
"In which of the nine hundred ſtreets—I mean lanes—of this capital of the world—for who can diſpute a Pariſian’s word, who never has excurſed beyond the gates?"
- 2 To digress; to turn aside from the main subject of attention. archaic, intransitive
"But how I excurſe!—Yet thou uſedſt to ſay, thou likedſt my excurſions. If thou doſt, thou’lt have enow of them: For I never had a ſubject I ſo much adored; […]"
- 3 To travel or pass through. obsolete, transitive
Example
"In which of the nine hundred ſtreets—I mean lanes—of this capital of the world—for who can diſpute a Pariſian’s word, who never has excurſed beyond the gates?"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "excurse"?
Common synonyms include: depart, deviate, digress, digression, divagate, diverge.
How do you use "excurse" in a sentence?
In which of the nine hundred ſtreets—I mean lanes—of this capital of the world—for who can diſpute a Pariſian’s word, who never has excurſed beyond the gates?
Etymology
Etymology 1
Probably partly from Classical Latin excurs-, past participial stem of excurrō, and partly from the noun.
Etymology 2
From Classical Latin excursus. Doublet of excursus. In the “excursus” sense, some later examples in plural may show errors for excursuses.