PARAGRAPH


Meaning of PARAGRAPH in English

I. ˈper-ə-ˌgraf, ˈpa-rə- noun

Etymology: Middle English paragraf marginal sign marking a paragraph, from Anglo-French parogref, from Medieval Latin paragraphus, from Greek paragraphos line used to mark change of persons in a dialogue, from paragraphein to write alongside, from para- + graphein to write — more at carve

Date: 1525

1.

a. : a subdivision of a written composition that consists of one or more sentences, deals with one point or gives the words of one speaker, and begins on a new usually indented line

b. : a short composition or note that is complete in one paragraph

2. : a character (as ¶) used to indicate the beginning of a paragraph and as a reference mark

• par·a·graph·ic ˌper-ə-ˈgra-fik, ˌpa-rə- adjective

II. verb

Date: 1764

transitive verb

1. : to write paragraphs about

2. : to divide into paragraphs

intransitive verb

: to write paragraphs

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.