Meaning

noun extended verbal expression in speech or writing

noun an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service)

noun an extended communication (often interactive) dealing with some particular topic

originFrom Middle English discours, borrowed from Middle French discours (“conversation, speech”), from Latin discursus (“the act of running about”), from Latin discurrō (“run about”), from dis- (“apart”) + currō (“run”). Spelling modified by influence of Middle French cours (“course”). Doublet of discursus.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0