Prose

Pronunciation

• IPA: /pr'əʊz/
• Rhymes: -əʊz

Origin

Used in English since 1330, from Old French prose, the Latin word prōsa ("straightforward") from the term prōsa ōrātio ("a straightforward speech- i.e. without the ornaments of verse"). The term prōsa ("straightforward") is a colloquial form of prorsa ("straight forwards") which is the feminine form of prorsus ("straight forwards"), from Old Latin prōvorsus ("moving straight ahead"), from pro- ("forward") + turned, form of vertō ("I turn"). Compare verse.

Online Etymology Dictionary

Full definition of prose

Noun

1. Language, particularly written language, not intended as poetry.Though known mostly for her prose, she also produced a small body of excellent poems.
• Miltonthings unattempted yet in prose or rhyme
2. Language which evinces little imagination or animation; dull and commonplace discourse.
3. (Roman Catholicism) A hymn with no regular meter, sometimes introduced into the Mass.

Antonyms

• poetry, verse

Derived terms

• prose poem
• purple prose

Related terms

• prosaic
• prosody

Verb

1. to write or repeat in a dull, tedious, or prosy way
• 1819, , Otho the Great, Act I, Scene II, verses 189-190Pray, do not prose, good Ethelbert, but speakWhat is your purpose?

Anagrams

• opers, pores, poser, preso, reops, ropes, spore