Prose

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈpɹəʊz/

Definitions

1. Writing or speech in its ordinary form, without metrical structure or rhyme, as distinguished from poetry
2. Written or spoken language that is presented in a straightforward and natural style, lacking the formal structure associated with poetry
3. The form of language that conveys ideas and narratives without the rhythmic and rhymed characteristics of poetic compositions

Etymology: Prose began as a word for speech that refused to dance. Latin "prosa oratio" meant "straightforward speech," speech without the ornaments of verse. The adjective "prosa" was a colloquial shortening of "prorsa," "straight forwards," and it traces back to an Old Latin phrase meaning "moving straight ahead," built from "pro-" (forward) and "vorsus," turned, from the verb "vertere," to turn. So the core idea is literally direction: going straight rather than turning and winding the way verse does. The word reached English through Middle English from Old French, where it carried the same contrast with verse. The word "verse" is a close relative, since both grew from the same Latin verb of turning, a reminder that a line of poetry was once understood as a turn at the end of a furrow, while prose ran on in a straight line.

Synonyms: writing, text, composition

Antonyms: poetry