Prose
/proʊz/noun
Ordinary written or spoken language that is not verse or poetry.
Did you know?The word comes from Latin prosa oratio, literally “straightforward speech,” from prorsus (“straight on, forward”), so prose was originally the opposite of ornamented, measured verse.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*per-
“To go forward, through, or beyond.”
Latin
Latin
prorsus
“Straight ahead; forward; directly.”
Late Latin
Latin
prosa oratio
“Straightforward speech; plain discourse.”
Old French
Old French
prose
“Prose; ordinary speech or writing.”
Middle English
English
prose
“Ordinary language in speaking or writing, as opposed to verse.”
Modern English
English
prose
“Ordinary written or spoken language not arranged in metrical lines.”