in the course of

Course \Course\ (k[=o]rs), n. [F. cours, course, L. cursus, fr.
   currere to run. See {Current}.]
   1. The act of moving from one point to another; progress;
      passage.
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            And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we
            came to Ptolemais.                    --Acts xxi. 7.
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   2. The ground or path traversed; track; way.
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            The same horse also run the round course at
            Newmarket.                            --Pennant.
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   3. Motion, considered as to its general or resultant
      direction or to its goal; line progress or advance.
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            A light by which the Argive squadron steers
            Their silent course to Ilium's well known shore.
                                                  --Dennham.
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            Westward the course of empire takes its way.
                                                  --Berkeley.
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   4. Progress from point to point without change of direction;
      any part of a progress from one place to another, which is
      in a straight line, or on one direction; as, a ship in a
      long voyage makes many courses; a course measured by a
      surveyor between two stations; also, a progress without
      interruption or rest; a heat; as, one course of a race.
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   5. Motion considered with reference to manner; or derly
      progress; procedure in a certain line of thought or
      action; as, the course of an argument.
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            The course of true love never did run smooth.
                                                  --Shak.
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   6. Customary or established sequence of events; recurrence of
      events according to natural laws.
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            By course of nature and of law.       --Davies.
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            Day and night,
            Seedtime and harvest, heat and hoary frost,
            Shall hold their course.              --Milton.
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   7. Method of procedure; manner or way of conducting; conduct;
      behavior.
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            My lord of York commends the plot and the general
            course of the action.                 --Shak.
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            By perseverance in the course prescribed.
                                                  --Wodsworth.
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            You hold your course without remorse. --Tennyson.
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   8. A series of motions or acts arranged in order; a
      succession of acts or practices connectedly followed; as,
      a course of medicine; a course of lectures on chemistry.
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   9. The succession of one to another in office or duty; order;
      turn.
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            He appointed . . . the courses of the priests --2
                                                  Chron. viii.
                                                  14.
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   10. That part of a meal served at one time, with its
       accompaniments.
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             He [Goldsmith] wore fine clothes, gave dinners of
             several courses, paid court to venal beauties.
                                                  --Macaulay.
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   11. (Arch.) A continuous level range of brick or stones of
       the same height throughout the face or faces of a
       building. --Gwilt.
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   12. (Naut.) The lowest sail on any mast of a square-rigged
       vessel; as, the fore course, main course, etc.
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   13. pl. (Physiol.) The menses.
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   {In course}, in regular succession.

   {Of course}, by consequence; as a matter of course; in
      regular or natural order.

   {In the course of}, at same time or times during. "In the
      course of human events." --T. Jefferson.

   Syn: Way; road; route; passage; race; series; succession;
        manner; method; mode; career; progress.
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