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prosody

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noun pros·o·dy \ ˈprä-sə-dē , -zə- \

Definition of prosody

plural prosodies
1 :the study of versification; especially :the systematic study of metrical structure
2 :a particular system, theory, or style of versification
3 :the rhythmic and intonational aspect of language
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prosodist

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Origin and Etymology of prosody

Middle English, from Latin prosodia accent of a syllable, from Greek prosōidia song sung to instrumental music, accent, from pros in addition to + ōidē song — more at pros-, ode

Other Literature Terms

apophasis, bathos, bildungsroman, bowdlerize, caesura, coda, doggerel, euphemism, poesy

PROSODY Defined for English Language Learners

prosody

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noun

Definition of prosody for English Language Learners

  • : the rhythm and pattern of sounds of poetry and language

Learn More about prosody

  1. Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about prosody

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