Etimology
From Middle English discussen, from Middle French and Anglo-Norman discusser (French discuter), from Latin discussus, past participle of discutiō (“to strike or shake apart, break up, scatter; examine, discuss”), from dis- (“apart”) + quatiō (“to shake”).
verb
discuss (third-person singular simple present discusses, present participle discussing, simple past and past participle discussed)
(transitive) To converse or debate concerning a particular topic.
(transitive, obsolete) To communicate, tell, or disclose (information, a message, etc.).
(obsolete, transitive) To break to pieces; to shatter.
(obsolete, transitive, colloquial) To deal with, in eating or drinking; consume.
(transitive, law) To examine or search thoroughly; to exhaust a remedy against, as against a principal debtor before proceeding against the surety.
(obsolete, transitive) To drive away, disperse, shake off; said especially of tumors.
Examples
Let's sit down and discuss this rationally.
I don't wish to discuss this further. Let's talk about something else.
Nym: I will discuss the humour of this love to Page.
Pistol: Discuss unto me; art thou officer? Or art thou base, common and popular?
When the preparations were finished, he invited me with—“Now, sir, bring forward your chair.” And we all, including the rustic youth, drew round the table: an austere silence prevailing while we discussed our meal.
We sat quietly down and discussed a cold fowl that we had brought with us.
In the first room we entered, a soldier and a man, like a clerk or dominie, were discussing a bottle of red wine; they immediately sprang up and politely proffered us each a bumper.
For she was giuen all to fleshly lust, / And poured forth in sensuall delight, / That all regard of shame she had discust, / And meet respect of honour put to flight […]
If too much milke be the cauſe, then the Nurſe ſhall not give the childe ſucke ſo often, nor in ſuch plenty: If it proceed from wind, and that doe cauſe the childe to be thus troubled, it ſhall be diſcuſſed with Fomentations applied to the belly and navell; and with Carminative Cliſters, which ſhall bee given him, […]
The softness of my hands was secured by medicated gloves, and my bosom rubbed with a pomade prepared by my mother, of virtue to discuss pimples, and clear discolourations.
Many arts were used to discuss the beginnings of new affliction.
Related words
synonyms
(converse about a topic): bespeak, betalk, debate, talk about
related terms
quash