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Glite Dictionary
social intercourse

social intercourse

1 7.4
Talking and sharing feelings with other people
  • noun
  • /ˈsoʊʃəl ˈɪntərˌkɔrs/
  • Archaic
translation icon : interacción social
  • I'm humming along, halfway listening, jotting down the few words I recognize from her lecture, when Dickinson says, "It was quite common, in polite social intercourse..."

Examples

  • He is secluded from normal social intercourse.

    Academic text (1991)

  • Alcohol is widely viewed as helpful in lowering one's inhibitions and facilitating social intercourse (Akerlind & Hornquist, 1992).

    Academic text (2002)

  • What ultimately brought us together was social intercourse.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Aquilera speaks of "communication" and "social intercourse" within the boundaries of the community (1978: 14).

    Academic text (1991)

  • We are not just a conservatory, but a place for social intercourse, where we explore our relationship to the world through our collections, showcased and articulated in our exhibitions.

    Academic text (2008)

  • She is highly educated; she possesses wit and humor, psychological insight and finesse, as well as considerable skills in the art of social intercourse.

    Academic text (1991)

  • According to researchers Andrea DeCapua and Ann C. Wintergerst, "culture shock is a combination of unfamiliar stimuli and a loss of familiar signs, signals, practices, and customs of social intercourse."

    Academic text (2013)

  • Engaging in thoughtful social intercourse can lead to deeper understanding among friends.

  • During the meeting, we practiced social intercourse by sharing our personal experiences and ideas.

  • Effective social intercourse helps build strong relationships and fosters a sense of community.

Synonyms

conversation
vssocial intercourse
∞ 1.0

A talk between two or more people to share news and ideas

includes those talks but also other interaction forms
sharing
vssocial intercourse
56 1.8

Talking with others to tell and hear thoughts and feelings

emphasizes two way exchange through conversation and interaction
social interaction
vssocial intercourse
18 2.8

People talk, act, and respond to each other

is specifically about exchanging ideas and feelings through talk
intercourse
vssocial intercourse
  • Archaic
9 7.1

Contact between people and groups in formal or social situations

is broader focusing on everyday conversation and personal interaction
communicating
vssocial intercourse
1 2.4

Sharing information, thoughts, or feelings with others

focuses specifically on exchange through conversation and interaction
to discussing
vssocial intercourse
1.8

Talking with someone to share ideas and opinions

covers that but also includes exchanging feelings and wider interaction

Antonyms

silence
660 2.0

A period with no sound or speech

monologue
124 4.8

A long speech by one person often in a play or film

How Interactive

social intercourse
  • Archaic
1 7.4
conversation
∞ 1.0
communication
247 2.3

Surface Forms

social intercourse singular
social intercourses plural

Morphology

social + intercourse

The meaning is directly compositional: 'social' (relating to social life) modifies 'intercourse' (interaction/dealings), yielding 'social interaction' which a learner can derive from the parts. Note that 'intercourse' can have a strong sexual sense in contemporary usage and is somewhat formal/archaic for 'interaction', which may cause register or ambiguity issues, but the literal sense is predictable from the constituents.

Etymology

Social intercourse comes from an older use of intercourse meaning a simple 'exchange' between people. Imagine friends meeting and sharing news, ideas and feelings face to face, and that picture explains why the phrase means 'talk and interaction' today.