ˈpräsədē, -di noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English prosodye, from Latin prosodia accent of a syllable, from Greek prosōidia song sung to instrumental music, modulation of the voice, accent, from pros near, toward, to, in addition to + -ōidē song, ode — more at pros- , ode
1.
a. : the study of versification ; especially : the systematic study of metrical structure : metrics — compare cadence , foot , meter , rhythm
b. : a treatise on versification
the best prosody yet written
c. : a particular system or theory of versification
although the nominal basis of his prosody is both accentual and syllabic, the latter element is really its defining principle — A.D.Culler
d. : a method or style of versification
the prosody of Milton
the prosody of Gerard Manley Hopkins
2. : the rhythmic aspect of language
the prosody of the English language — H.H.J.Murrill