verse

1 of 2

noun

plural verses
1
: a line of metrical writing
a fourteen-syllable verse
2
a(1)
: speech or writing distinguished from ordinary language by its distinctive patterning of sounds and especially by its rhythm : metrical language
characters who speak only in verse
b
: poem
c
: a body of metrical writing (as of a period or country)
The cinquain in older French verse was any kind of five-line stanza.John Hollander
3
b
: a part of a song that typically occurs in a series, precedes the chorus, and follows any introduction
Sing the first and last verses only.
4
: one of the short divisions into which a chapter of scripture (such as the Bible, Torah, or Quran) is traditionally divided

verse

2 of 2

verb

versed; versing

intransitive verb

: to make verse : versify

transitive verb

1
: to tell or celebrate in verse
2
: to turn into verse

Examples of verse in a Sentence

Noun The epic tale was written in verse. The second verse is sung the same way as the first. Verb while in prison, he versed himself in the rights of the incarcerated
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Late-night hosts were delighted by the viral moment, taking multiple opportunities to comment on the former president’s ability to spit a verse. Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2024 The generator presents a unique opportunity to add and arrange verses that did not make the original track, though some of them appeared on the truncated radio edit which was dropped this week. Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 24 Oct. 2024 The verse offered a glimpse of how Perkins wanted to be remembered. Rebecca Brenner Graham / Made By History, TIME, 21 Oct. 2024 Hazy guitar lays the soundscape, as U.S. Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient Hastings takes the first verse, sung from the perspective of a soldier killed during the Civil War, before Brice picks up the second verse depicting the story of a soldier who dies during World War II. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for verse 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'verse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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 worth entry 1

Verb

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

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of verse was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near verse

Cite this Entry

“Verse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/verse. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

verse

noun
ˈvərs
1
: a line of writing in which words are arranged in a rhythmic pattern
2
: writing in which words are arranged in a rhythmic pattern
3
: stanza
4
: one of the short parts of a chapter of the Bible

More from Merriam-Webster on verse

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