prose

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Ordinary written or spoken language, as opposed to poetry.

   Though known mostly for her prose, she also wrote a few fine poems.

2. 2
   noun

   Dull, plain, or unimaginative language.

   The report was written in flat, lifeless prose.

From Middle English prose, from Old French prose, from Latin prōsa (“straightforward”) from the term prōsa ōrātiō (“a straightforward speech – i.e. without the ornaments of verse”). further etymology and related terms The term prōsa (“straightforward”), a colloquial form of prorsa (“straight forwards”), the feminine form prorsus (“straight forwards”), from Old Latin prōvorsus (“moving straight ahead”), from pro- (“forward”) + vorsus (“turned”), form of vertō (“to turn”). Compare verse.

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