prose

prose
prose early 14c., from O.Fr. prose (13c.), from L. prosa oratio "straightforward or direct speech" (without the ornaments of verse), from prosa, fem. of prosus, earlier prorsus "straightforward, direct," from Old L. provorsus " (moving) straight ahead," from pro- "forward" (see PRO- (Cf. pro-)) + vorsus "turned," pp. of vertere "to turn" (see VERSE (Cf. verse)).
"Good prose, to say nothing of the original thoughts it conveys, may be infinitely varied in modulation. It is only an extension of metres, an amplification of harmonies, of which even the best and most varied poetry admits but few." [Walter Savage Landor, "Imaginary Conversations"]

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • prose — prose …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • prose — [ proz ] n. f. • 1265; lat. prosa, de prosa oratio « discours qui va en droite ligne » I ♦ 1 ♦ Forme du discours oral ou écrit, manière de s exprimer qui n est soumise à aucune des règles de la versification. « tout ce qui n est point prose est… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • prose — PROSE. s. f. Discours qui n est point assujetti à une certaine mesure, à un certain nombre de pieds & de syllabes. Prose grecque. prose latine. prose françoise. le langage de la prose est plus simple & moins figuré que celuy des vers. escrire en… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Prose — Prose, n. [F. prose, L. prosa, fr. prorsus, prosus, straight forward, straight on, for proversus; pro forward + versus, p. p. of vertere to turn. See {Verse}.] 1. The ordinary language of men in speaking or writing; language not cast in poetical… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Prose — Prose, a. 1. Pertaining to, or composed of, prose; not in verse; as, prose composition. [1913 Webster] 2. Possessing or exhibiting unpoetical characteristics; plain; dull; prosaic; as, the prose duties of life. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • prose — [ prouz ] noun uncount * written language in its ordinary form, as opposed to poetry: She writes beautiful prose. in prose: He recorded his emotions in prose and verse …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Prose — Prose, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Prosed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Prosing}.] 1. To write in prose. [1913 Webster] 2. To write or repeat in a dull, tedious, or prosy way. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Prose — Prose, v. i. 1. To write prose. [1913 Webster] Prosing or versing, but chiefly this latter. Milton. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • prose — prose·man; prose; trans·prose; …   English syllables

  • prose — [prōz] n. [ME < MFr < L prosa, for prorsa (oratio), direct (speech) < prorsus, forward, straight on < proversus, pp. of provertere, to turn forward: see PRO 2 & VERSE] 1. the ordinary form of written or spoken language, without rhyme… …   English World dictionary

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