Hypertext Webster Gateway: "digression"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Digression \Di*gres"sion\, n. [L. digressio: cf. F. digression.]
1. The act of digressing or deviating, esp. from the main
subject of a discourse; hence, a part of a discourse
deviating from its main design or subject.
The digressions I can not excuse otherwise, than by
the confidence that no man will read them. --Sir W.
Temple.
2. A turning aside from the right path; transgression;
offense. [R.]
Then my digression is so vile, so base, That it will
live engraven in my face. --Shak.
3. (Anat.) The elongation, or angular distance from the sun;
-- said chiefly of the inferior planets. [R.]
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
digression
n 1: a message that departs from the main subject [syn: {aside},
{excursus}, {divagation}, {parenthesis}]
2: a turning aside (of your course or attention or concern): "a
diversion from the main highway"; "a digression into
irrelevant details"; "a deflection from his goal" [syn: {diversion},
{deviation}, {deflection}, {deflexion}]
3: wandering from the main path of a journey [syn: {excursion}]
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