1. To converse or discuss.
* "What, shall we discourse of the latest news?" (The Taming of the Shrew)
* "Then let us discourse awhile." (The Tempest)
2. To hold a formal or serious discussion.
* "Let us discourse of our great undertaking." (Henry V)
* "I come to discourse of some business." (Much Ado About Nothing)
3. To give a speech or oration.
* "I shall now discourse of the nature of love." (A Midsummer Night's Dream)
* "He discoursed at length about his travels." (The Winter's Tale)
4. To write or compose a text.
* "A discourse on the art of poetry." (Love's Labour's Lost)
* "He has written a lengthy discourse on philosophy." (The Tempest)
Shakespeare uses the word "discourse" in a variety of contexts, but it generally conveys the sense of a thoughtful or serious conversation, discussion, or speech.