paragraph

¹par·a·graph

noun \ˈper-ə-ˌgraf, ˈpa-rə-\

Definition of PARAGRAPH

1

a : a subdivision of a written composition that consists of one or more sentences, deals with one point or gives the words of one speaker, and begins on a new usually indented line

b : a short composition or note that is complete in one paragraph

2

: a character (as ¶) used to indicate the beginning of a paragraph and as a reference mark

— par·a·graph·ic \ˌper-ə-ˈgra-fik, ˌpa-rə-\ adjective

Examples of PARAGRAPH

1. In the second paragraph from the bottom, you've misspelled “their” as “thier.”
2. Please refer to section 2, paragraph 4 for the appropriate information.
3. The two introductory paragraphs were written by the editor.

Origin of PARAGRAPH

Middle English paragraf marginal sign marking a paragraph, from Anglo-French parogref, from Medieval Latin paragraphus, from Greek paragraphos line used to mark change of persons in a dialogue, from paragraphein to write alongside, from para- + graphein to write — more at carve

First Known Use: 1525

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

Rhymes with PARAGRAPH

allograph, autograph, barograph, bathyscaphe, cenotaph, chronograph, circle graph, cryptograph, epigraph, epitaph, half-and-half, hectograph, holograph, homograph, hygrograph, kymograph, lithograph, logograph, micrograph, monograph, pantograph, phonograph, photograph, pictograph, polygraph, quarterstaff, seismograph, serigraph, shadowgraph, shandygaff, spectrograph, sphygmograph, telegraph, thermograph, typograph

²paragraph

verb

Definition of PARAGRAPH

transitive verb

1

: to write paragraphs about

2

: to divide into paragraphs

intransitive verb

: to write paragraphs

First Known Use of PARAGRAPH

1764