prose

[prohz]

noun

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.

adjective

1. of, in, or pertaining to prose.

2. commonplace; dull; prosaic.

verb (used with object)

prosed, prosing 

1. to turn into or express in prose.

verb (used without object)

prosed, prosing 

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

prose

/ prəʊz /

noun

1. spoken or written language as in ordinary usage, distinguished from poetry by its lack of a marked metrical structure

2. a passage set for translation into a foreign language

3. commonplace or dull discourse, expression, etc

4. RC Church a hymn recited or sung after the gradual at Mass

5. (modifier) written in prose

6. (modifier) matter-of-fact

verb

1. to write or say (something) in prose

2. (intr) to speak or write in a tedious style

Other Word Forms

• proselike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prose¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin prōsa (ōrātiō), literally, “straightforward (speech),” feminine of prōsus, prōrsus, contraction of prōversus “turned forward,” past participle of prōvertere “to turn forward,” equivalent to prō- pro- ¹ + vertere “to turn”

Word History and Origins

Origin of prose¹

C14: via Old French from Latin phrase prōsa ōrātiō straightforward speech, from prorsus prosaic, from prōvertere to turn forwards, from _pro- ¹ + vertere to turn

Example Sentences

Pond’s witty visuals and sharp prose make “Do Admit” the best group biography of the sisters to date.

From Los Angeles Times

Even the imbeciles at the White House know that if you are trying to communicate with the president of Russia, you ask ChatGPT to write your sub-Hallmark prose in Russian.

From Salon

Of course, it’s probably unfair to expect someone who is not a writer by profession to conjure prose like this on the page.

From Salon

But the tone of disappointment and personal insult had already been established, and if nothing else it fueled a lot of enjoyably outraged prose.

From Salon

The bill, in all its legislative prose, does not cite any specific project.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• composition 
• essay 
• fiction 
• nonfiction 
• speech 
• story 
• text 
• writing