excursus

plural excursuses

1. A fuller discussion (usually in a separate section at the end of a chapter or book) of a particular part of the text of a work, especially a bible commentary or classical Greek or Latin text.

   Synonyms: excurse

2. An act of departing from the main narrative in speech or writing to discuss an incidental issue; a digression.

   Part III (Chapters 12 to 16) includes an excursus which leads us to the use of Esperanto outside the community of its speakers.

   2022, Sabine Fiedler, Cyril Robert Brosch, “On the structure of this book” (chapter 6), in Esperanto – Lingua Franca and Language Community, John Benjamins Publishing Company, →DOI, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OL, page 27

   3 more examples

   Here is what us scholars call an excursus. If you are an honest man the following page or two can be of no possible interest to you.

   1979, Kyril Bonfiglioli, After You with the Pistol, Penguin, published 2001, page 204

   In his excursus on the Jewish people at the opening of the fifth book of his Histories[…], Tacitus was at a loss to uncover any deep cause for the war that broke out in 66.

   2007, Glen Bowersock, “Provocateur”, in London Review of Books, 29:4, p. 16

   The authors devote a fascinating excursus to the Western imagination’s preoccupation with serpents—from Eden to esoterica—and how this primed the ground for Kuṇḍalinī’s reception.

   2025 December 10, Massimo Introvigne, ““The Serpent’s Tale”: Kuṇḍalinī Without a Leash”, in Bitter Winter

   Synonyms: excurse

3. Chiefly followed by into or to.
   1. A brief journey or trip, especially one out of the usual way; an excursion.
   2. figurativelyA brief instance of trying out a new activity, etc.