1. prose(n = noun.communication) - ordinary writing as distinguished from verse;
is a kind of genre, literary genre, writing style
has particulars: euphuism, nonfiction, nonfictional prose, interior monologue, stream of consciousness, prose poem, polyphonic prose
2. prose(n = noun.communication) - matter of fact, commonplace, or dull expression;
is a kind of expressive style, style
Derived forms adjective prosaic3, adjective prosaic2, adjective prosaic1
1. The ordinary language of men in speaking or writing; language not cast in poetical measure or rhythm; -- contradistinguished from verse, or metrical composition. [1913 Webster]
"I speak in prose, and let him rymes make." [1913 Webster]
"Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme." [1913 Webster]
"I wish our clever young poets would remember my homely definitions of prose and poetry, that is; prose -- words in their best order; poetry -- the best order." [1913 Webster]
2. Hence, language which evinces little imagination or animation; dull and commonplace discourse. [1913 Webster]
3. A hymn with no regular meter, sometimes introduced into the Mass. See Sequence. [1913 Webster]
1. Pertaining to, or composed of, prose; not in verse; as, prose composition. [1913 Webster]
2. Possessing or exhibiting unpoetical characteristics; plain; dull; prosaic; as, the prose duties of life. [1913 Webster]
1. To write in prose. [1913 Webster]
2. To write or repeat in a dull, tedious, or prosy way. [1913 Webster]
To write prose. [1913 Webster]
"Prosing or versing, but chiefly this latter." [1913 Webster]
prose, n. & v.
--n.
1 the ordinary form of the written or spoken language (opp. POETRY, VERSE) (Milton's prose works).
2 a passage of prose, esp. for translation into a foreign language.
3 a tedious speech or conversation.
4 a plain matter-of-fact quality (the prose of existence).
5 Eccl. = SEQUENCE 8.
--v.
1 intr. (usu. foll. by about, away, etc.) talk tediously (was prosing away about his dog).
2 tr. turn (a poem etc.) into prose.
Idiom:
prose idyll a short description in prose of a picturesque, esp. rustic, incident, character, etc. prose poem (or poetry) a piece of imaginative poetic writing in prose.
Derivative:
proser n.
Etymology:
ME f. OF f. L prosa (oratio) straightforward (discourse), fem. of prosus, earlier prorsus direct
VB be diffuse, run out on, descant, expatiate, enlarge, dilate, amplify, expand, inflate, launch out, branch out, rant, maunder, prose, harp upon, dwell on, insist upon, digress, ramble, battre la campagne, beat about the bush, perorate, spin a long yarn, protract, spin out, swell out, draw out, battologize.
VB be loquacious, talk glibly, pour forth, patter, prate, palaver, prose, chatter, prattle, clack, jabber, jaw, blather, blatter, blether, rattle, rattle on, twaddle, twattle, babble, gabble, outtalk, talk oneself out of breath, talk oneself hoarse, expatiate, gossip, din in the ears, talk at random, talk nonsense, be hoarse with talking.
N prose, prose writer, prosaicism, prosaism, prosaist, proser, prosal, prosy, prosaic, unpoetic, unpoetical, rhymeless, unrhymed, in prose, not in verse.
VB prose, write prose, write in prose.
N dullness, heaviness, flatness, infestivity &c, stupidity want of originality, dearth of ideas, prose, matter of fact, heavy book, conte a dormir debout, platitude, dull, dull as ditch water, unentertaining, uninteresting, flat, dry as dust, unfunny, unlively, logy, unimaginative, insulse, dry as dust, prosy, prosing, prosaic, matter of fact, commonplace, pedestrian, pointless, weary stale flat and unprofitable, stupid, slow, flat, insipid, vapid, humdrum, monotonous, melancholic, stolid plodding, boring, tiresome, tedious, davus sum non Aedipus, deadly dull and boring, DDB.
VB be dull, prose, take au serieux, be caught napping, render dull, damp, depress, throw cold water on, lay a wet blanket on, fall flat upon the ear, no joke, serious matter (importance).