[prose] n [ME, fr. MF, fr. L prosa, fr. fem. of prorsus, prosus, straightforward, being in prose, contr. of proversus, pp. of provertere to turn forward, fr. pro- forward + vertere to turn--more at pro-, worth] (14c) 1 a: the ordinary language people use in speaking or writing b: a literary medium distinguished from poetry esp. by its greater irregularity and variety of rhythm and its closer correspondence to the patterns of everyday speech
2: a prosaic style, quality, or condition
[2]prose adj (14c) 1: of, relating to, or written in prose
2: prosaic [3]prose vi prosed ; pros.ing (1642) 1: to write prose
2: to write or speak in a prosaic manner