prose

prose · noun, verb¹

1. Old Latin · derived fromprōvorsus“moving straight ahead”
2. Latin · derived fromprōsa“straightforward”
3. Old French · derived fromprose
4. Middle English · inherited fromprose
5. English todayprose

From Middle English prose, from Old French prose, from Latin prōsa (“straightforward”) from the term prōsa ōrātiō (“a straightforward speech – i.e. without the ornaments of verse”). further etymology and related terms The term prōsa (“straightforward”), a colloquial form of prorsa (“straight forwards”), the feminine form prorsus (“straight forwards”), from Old Latin prōvorsus (“moving straight ahead”), from pro- (“forward”) + vorsus (“turned”), form of vertō (“to turn”). Compare verse.

Prose · proper noun²

1. German · borrowed fromPröse
2. English todayProse

Borrowed from German Pröse, from a short form of the personal name Ambrose.

Words from the same roots