English Explanatory Dictionary

prose

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Language, particularly written language, not intended as poetry.
  2. Language which evinces little imagination or animation; dull and commonplace discourse.
  3. A hymn with no regular meter, sometimes introduced into the Mass.
verb
  1. To write or repeat in a dull, tedious, or prosy way.
name
  1. A surname from German.

Pronunciation

/ˈpɹəʊz/ /ˈpɹoʊz/ En-us-prose.ogg

Word forms

prose proses prosing prosed

Etymology

From Middle English prose, from Old French prose, from Latin prōsa (“straightforward”) from the term prōsa ōrātiō (“a straightforward speech – i.e. without the ornaments of verse”). further etymology and related terms The term prōsa (“straightforward”), a colloquial form of prorsa (“straight forwards”), the feminine form prorsus (“straight forwards”), from Old Latin prōvorsus (“moving straight ahead”), from pro- (“forward”) + vorsus (“turned”), form of vertō (“to turn”). Compare verse.

Antonyms

poetry verse

Related words

prosaic prosody

Derived words

beige prose beprose prosal Prose Edda proselike proseman prose poem prosewise prosification prosify prosimetrical prosist purple prose rhymeprose technoprose transprose
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