Word: digress (verb)

Associations

The word "digress" means to leave the main topic or subject temporarily when speaking or writing. It is often used when someone starts talking about something different from the main point.

• Example 1: "During the lecture, the professor digressed to tell a funny story." Here, the professor briefly talked about something unrelated to the main lecture.
• Example 2: "Sorry to digress, but have you heard the latest news?" The speaker is changing the topic for a moment.
• Example 3: "The writer digresses in the middle of the chapter to describe the history of the city." The author moves away from the main story to give extra information.

Synonym: "depart" or "stray" can be similar, but "digress" is often used in formal speaking or writing. "Depart" is more general; "digress" specifically means to move away from the main topic.

Substitution

Instead of "digress," you could say:

• "stray from the topic"
• "go off on a tangent"
• "veer off course"

Each phrase means leaving the main topic, but "go off on a tangent" is more informal and sometimes implies a longer or more distracting change.

Deconstruction

"Digress" comes from Latin:

• Prefix "di-" means "apart" or "away."
• Root "gress" means "to step" or "to go." So, "digress" literally means "to step away" (from the main topic).

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you or someone else digressed during a conversation?
• Why do you think people sometimes digress when speaking or writing?
• How does digressing affect the listener or reader? Is it always bad, or can it be helpful?