verse

play

noun \ˈvərs\

Definition of verse

1 : a line of metrical writing
2a (1) : metrical language (2) : metrical writing distinguished from poetry especially by its lower level of intensity (3) : poetry 2b : poemc : a body of metrical writing (as of a period or country)
3 : stanza
4 : one of the short divisions into which a chapter of the Bible is traditionally divided

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Examples of verse in a Sentence

The epic tale was written in verse.
The second verse is sung the same way as the first.

Origin and Etymology of verse

Middle English vers, fers, in part borrowed from Anglo-French vers, verse in part going back to Old English fers, both borrowed from Latin versus “furrow, measure of land, row, line, line of writing, line of metrical writing,” action noun derived from vertere “to cause to turn, rotate,” — more at ¹worth

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Literature Terms

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

verse

verb

Definition of verse

versed

;

versing

intransitive verb
: to make verse : versify
transitive verb
1 : to tell or celebrate in verse
2 : to turn into verse

Origin and Etymology of verse

Middle English versen, in part verbal derivative of vers, fers ¹verse in part going back to Old English fersian “to versify,” verbal derivative of fers ¹verse

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Literature Terms

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

verse

verb

Definition of verse

versed

;

versing

transitive verb
: to familiarize by close association, study, or experience well versed in the theater

Origin and Etymology of verse

back-formation from versed, partial translation of Latin versātus, past participle of versārī “to come and go, be involved, concern oneself,” passive (in middle sense) of versāre “to keep turning” — more at versant

First Known Use: 1599