Aside vs. Digression — What's the Difference?

An aside is a dramatic device in which a character speaks to the audience. By convention the audience is to realize that the character's speech is unheard by the other characters on stage.

Digression (parékbasis in Greek, egressio, digressio and excursion in Latin) is a section of a composition or speech that marks a temporary shift of subject; the digression ends when the writer or speaker returns to the main topic. Digressions can be used intentionally as a stylistic or rhetorical device.

To or toward the side

The act of digressing.

Out of one's thoughts or mind

An instance of digressing, especially a written or spoken passage that has no bearing on the main subject.

Apart

An aside, an act of straying from the main subject in speech or writing.

In reserve; away

The act of straying from the main subject in speech or writing, (rhetoric) particularly for rhetorical effect.

Being excepted or excluded from consideration

(obsolete) A deviancy, a sin or error, an act of straying from the path of righteousness or a general rule.

A piece of dialogue intended for the audience and supposedly not heard by the other actors on stage.

A deviation, an act of straying from a path.

A remark made in an undertone so as to be inaudible to others nearby.

An elongation, a deflection or deviation from a mean position or expected path.

A parenthetical departure; a digression.

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.

To or on one side so as to be out of the way.

A turning aside from the right path; transgression; offense.

Not in perfect symmetry; distorted laterally, especially of the human body.

The elongation, or angular distance from the sun; - said chiefly of the inferior planets.

An incidental remark to a person next to one made discreetly but not in private, audible only to that person.theatre (theatre) A brief comment by a character addressing the audience, unheard by other characters.

A message that departs from the main subject

A minor related mention, an afterthought.

A turning aside (of your course or attention or concern);

On, or to, one side; out of a straight line, course, or direction; at a little distance from the rest; out of the way; apart.

Wandering from the main path of a journey

Out of one's thoughts; off; away; as, to put aside gloomy thoughts.

So as to be heard by others; privately.

Something spoken aside; as, a remark made by a stageplayer which the other players are not supposed to hear.

A line spoken by an actor to the audience but not intended for others on the stage

A message that departs from the main subject

On or to one side;

Out of the way (especially away from one's thoughts);

Not taken into account or excluded from consideration;

In a different direction;

Placed or kept separate and distinct as for a purpose;

In reserve; not for immediate use;