Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Digression

Digression , noun

[Latin digressio: compare French digression.]

1.
The act of digressing or deviating, esp. from the main subject of a discourse; hence, a part of a discourse deviating from its main design or subject.
The digressions I can not excuse otherwise, than by the confidence that no man will read them. — Sir W. Temple
2.
A turning aside from the right path; transgression; offense. [Rare]
Then my digression is so vile, so base, That it will live engraven in my face. — Shakespeare
3.
(Anatomy) The elongation, or angular distance from the sun; -- said chiefly of the inferior planets. [Rare]