I. ˈprōz noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin prosa, from feminine of prorsus, prosus, straightforward, being in prose, contraction of proversus, past participle of provertere to turn forward, from pro- forward + vertere to turn — more at pro- , worth
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : the ordinary language people use in speaking or writing
b. : a literary medium distinguished from poetry especially 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
II. adjective
Date: 14th century
1. : of, relating to, or written in prose
2. : prosaic
III. intransitive verb
( prosed ; pros·ing )
Date: 1642
1. : to write prose
2. : to write or speak in a prosaic manner