disquisition
noun
dis·qui·si·tion
ˌdi-skwə-ˈzi-shən 
: a formal inquiry into or discussion of a subject : discourse
Synonyms
Examples of disquisition in a Sentence
a lengthy disquisition on foreign policy
Adam Smith's celebrated disquisition on the factors contributing to the wealth of nations.
Recent Examples on the Web
Christian Dannecker began his talk with a convoluted disquisition on deforestation curves, counterfactual modelling, and the limitations of NASA satellite data in assessing dryland deforestation.
—
Heidi Blake, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2023
The drama we have been promised collapses into disquisition.
—Meghan O’Gieblyn, The New York Review of Books, 2 Mar. 2023
But this is no sterile, scholarly disquisition; it’s dotted throughout with political critique, artistic context, and the chaos and violence of personal experience.
—Longreads, 23 July 2021
In the New York Times, meanwhile, appeared the longest yet disquisition on the travails of WarnerMedia under previous owner AT&T and new owner Discovery.
—WSJ, 22 Nov. 2022
Rather, Lelio and his co-writers have made a smart, subtle disquisition on the necessity of both skepticism and faith, with a particularly keen understanding of religion’s uses and abuses.
—Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2022
Before the boy could continue his disquisition, Pops clocked him with a right hand.
—David Remnick, The New Yorker, 27 June 2022
That the Russian president delivered a disquisition on Western public discourse on Friday may seem odd at a time when Russia is fighting what some analysts believe to be its bloodiest war since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s.
—New York Times, 25 Mar. 2022
Dune is a space opera, an allegory for ecological disaster, a disquisition on power—and an unending source of inspiration for all manner of extraliterary pursuits.
—The Editors, Wired, 28 Sep. 2021
See More
Heidi Blake, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2023
The drama we have been promised collapses into disquisition.
—Meghan O’Gieblyn, The New York Review of Books, 2 Mar. 2023
But this is no sterile, scholarly disquisition; it’s dotted throughout with political critique, artistic context, and the chaos and violence of personal experience.
—Longreads, 23 July 2021
In the New York Times, meanwhile, appeared the longest yet disquisition on the travails of WarnerMedia under previous owner AT&T and new owner Discovery.
—WSJ, 22 Nov. 2022
Rather, Lelio and his co-writers have made a smart, subtle disquisition on the necessity of both skepticism and faith, with a particularly keen understanding of religion’s uses and abuses.
—Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2022
Before the boy could continue his disquisition, Pops clocked him with a right hand.
—David Remnick, The New Yorker, 27 June 2022
That the Russian president delivered a disquisition on Western public discourse on Friday may seem odd at a time when Russia is fighting what some analysts believe to be its bloodiest war since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s.
—New York Times, 25 Mar. 2022
Dune is a space opera, an allegory for ecological disaster, a disquisition on power—and an unending source of inspiration for all manner of extraliterary pursuits.
—The Editors, Wired, 28 Sep. 2021
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'disquisition.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Latin disquisition-, disquisitio, from disquirere to investigate, from dis- + quaerere to seek
First Known Use
1640, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near disquisition
Cite this Entry
“Disquisition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disquisition. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
More from Merriam-Webster on disquisition
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share