PROSE


Meaning of PROSE in English

— proselike , adj.

/prohz/ , n., adj., v., prosed, prosing .

n.

1. the ordinary form of spoken or written language, without metrical structure, as distinguished from poetry or verse.

2. matter-of-fact, commonplace, or dull expression, quality, discourse, etc.

3. Liturgy. a hymn sung after the gradual, originating from a practice of setting words to the jubilatio of the alleluia.

adj.

4. of, in, or pertaining to prose.

5. commonplace; dull; prosaic.

v.t.

6. to turn into or express in prose.

v.i.

7. to write or talk in a dull, matter-of-fact manner.

[ 1300-50; ME prosa ( oratio ) lit., straightforward (speech), fem. of prosus, for prorsus, contr. of proversus, ptp. of provertere to turn forward, equiv. to pro- PRO- 1 + vertere to turn ]

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .