Poetry
/ˈpoʊ.ə.tri/noun
Literary writing that uses rhythm, imagery, and concentrated language, often with verse.
Did you know?The English word ultimately comes from Greek poiein, “to make,” so poetry began as an act of making or crafting before it meant verse.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰeh₁-
“to put, place, set”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ποιεῖν (poiein)
“to make, do, create”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ποιητής (poiētēs)
“a maker, author, poet”
Latin
Latin
poēta
“poet”
Old French
Old French
poete
“poet”
Middle English
English
poetrie
“poetry, poetic composition”