prose Hear it!

prose Definition

prose (prōz)

noun

  1. the ordinary form of written or spoken language, without rhyme or meter; speech or writing, sometimes, specif., nonfictional writing, that is not poetry
  2. 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

  1. of or in prose
  2. 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

n.

fiction, non-fiction, composition; see exposition 2, literature 2, story, writing 2.

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.