A Course Is Anything That Runs
A course is a direction, a series of lessons or a part of a meal. All of them are things that run in sequence.
A course is a route, a series of lessons, a part of a meal or a stretch of ground for sport. The unifying idea is running: Latin *cursus* is a running, from *currere*, to run. A river runs its course, a meal runs through its courses, and a student runs through a course of study. The same verb gives us *current*, *courier* and *occur*.
- A route or direction. *Change course.*
- A series of lessons. *A language course.*
- Part of a meal. *The main course.*
- A sports ground. *A golf course.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | course | A steady course. |
| Plural | courses | Three courses. |
| Verb | course | Blood coursed through. |
| Related | current | A strong current. |
| Related | courier | A bike courier. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The river changed its course.Geography.
- A three-course meal.Dining.
- In due course.At the appropriate time.
Words from *currere*, to run
- Current — running water or electricity
- Courier — one who runs with messages
- Occur — to run up against
- Excursion — a running out
- Curriculum — a course of study; in Latin, a running track
From Old French *cours*, from Latin *cursus*, a running or journey, from *currere*, to run.
Course or coarse?
Course is a route or series. Coarse means rough. They are homophones with no shared origin.
Are curriculum and course related?
Yes. Curriculum means a running track in Latin, from the same verb, and a course of study runs the same metaphor.