prose Definition
prose (prōz)
noun
- the ordinary form of written or spoken language, without rhyme or meter; speech or writing, sometimes, specif., nonfictional writing, that is not poetry
- dull, commonplace talk, expression, quality, etc.
Etymology: ME < MFr < L prosa, for prorsa (oratio), direct (speech) < prorsus, forward, straight on < proversus, pp. of provertere, to turn forward: see pro- & verse
adjective
- of or in prose
- dull; unimaginative; commonplace; prosaic
transitive verb, intransitive verb prosed, pros′·ing
to speak, write, or express (one's thoughts, etc.) in prose or in a prosaic way
prose Synonyms
prose Usage Examples
Preposition: from
period: Eighteenth-Century Fiction contains a selection of works in English prose from the period 1700-1780, by writers from the British Isles.
Converse of object
- rhyme: The form of the Qur'an ( rhymed prose supposedly written by an illiterate prophet ) is perhaps stressed more than the content.
- compose: Long gone are the days when pupils had to compose prose and poems in Latin.
- write: If you've got a comedic streak or a gift for writing prose you could take part in next year's Fringe.
- speak: Then I have been speaking prose for more than forty years without knowing it.
- read: They also sang folk songs and wrote and read prose and poetry.
- publish: Policy: To publish the best writing in all genres; to publish sharp discerning prose and good reviews.
Adjective modifier
- lucid: Agree with comments of the literary critics that it is brilliantly written in lucid prose.
- deathless: Now there's a solution offered by Fatbrain which puts your deathless prose online.
- purple: Lily Allen, Alright, Still Britain's new pop darling justifies all the purple prose.
- poetic: None of the above restrictions prevents the writer from producing the kind of resonant and even poetic prose that can carry an enormous punch.
- descriptive: Depending upon how the reader is able to deal with the descriptive prose, determines the readers response to this particular novel.
- lyrical: Cliff Wright's tender illustrations complement the lyrical prose of Adele Geras.
Modifies a noun
- fiction: He has also won several awards for short prose fiction.
- stylist: Browne is of course, one of the great English prose stylists.
- poem: Stowe wrote a long two volume prose poem to London.
- romance: His fame as a writer of prose romances grows brighter every year.
- narrative: Back to top Imagery and symbolism Tho Dickens writes prose narratives he is fond of comparisons of the kind we expect in poetry.
- writing: You will also be asked to complete a short piece of continuous prose writing.
Noun used with modifier
century: Its seventeenth century prose is indeed remarkable; it is a precious gem in the heritage of the English language.
Browse dictionary entries near prose
- ‹ proscription
- ‹ proscribe
- ‹ prosciutto
- ‹ proscenium
- ‹ prosaism
- ‹ prosaic
- ‹ pros
- ‹ prorogue
- ‹ prorate
- ‹ propylite

