prose

Prose is regular written or spoken language that is not poetry.

(noun)

An example of prose is the writing in Catcher in the Rye.

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.

See prose in Webster's New World College Dictionary

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.

Origin: 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, prosing

to speak, write, or express (one's thoughts, etc.) in prose or in a prosaic way

See prose in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. Ordinary speech or writing, without metrical structure.
  2. Commonplace expression or quality.
  3. Roman Catholic Church A hymn of irregular meter sung before the Gospel.
intransitive verb prosed prosed, pros·ing, pros·es
  1. To write prose.
  2. To speak or write in a dull, tiresome style.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin prōsa (ōrātiō), straightforward (discourse)

Origin: , feminine of prōsus

Origin: , alteration of prōrsus

Origin: , from prōversus

Origin: , past participle of prōvertere, to turn forward

Origin: : prō-, forward; see pro-1

Origin: + vertere, to turn; see wer-2 in Indo-European roots

.

Learn more about prose

Related Articles

link/cite print suggestion box