Adjacent Words

Verse definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

VERSE, n. vers. [L. versus; verto, to turn.]
1. In poetry, a line, consisting of a certain number of long and short syllables, disposed according to the rules of the species of poetry which the author intends to compose. Verses are of various kinds, as hexameter, pentameter, and tetrameter, etc. according to the number of feet in each. A verse of twelve syllables is called an Alexandrian or Alexandrine. Two or more verses form a stanza or strophe.
2. Poetry; metrical language.
Virtue was taught in verse.
Verse embalms virtue.
3. A short division of any composition, particularly of the chapters in the Scriptures. The author of the division of the Old Testament into verses, is not ascertained. The New Testament was divided into verses by Robert Stephens.
4. A piece of poetry.
5. A portion of an anthem to be performed by a single voice to each part.
6. In a song or ballad, a stanza is called a verse.
Blank verse, poetry in which the lines do not end in rhymes.
Heroic verse, usually consists of ten syllables, or in English, of five accented syllables, constituting five feet.
VERSE, v.t. To tell in verse; to relate poetically.
Playing on pipes of corn, and versing love.
To be versed, [L. vesor.] to be well skilled; to be acquainted with; as, to be versed in history or in geometry.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: literature in metrical form [syn: poetry, poesy, verse]
2: a piece of poetry [syn: verse, rhyme]
3: a line of metrical text [syn: verse, verse line] v
1: compose verses or put into verse; "He versified the ancient saga" [syn: verse, versify, poetize, poetise]
2: familiarize through thorough study or experience; "She versed herself in Roman archeology"

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English vers, fers, from Anglo-French vers & Old English fers, both from Latin versus, literally, turning, from vertere to turn — more at worth Date: before 12th century 1. a line of metrical writing 2. a. (1) metrical language (2) metrical writing distinguished from poetry especially by its lower level of intensity (3) poetry 2 b. poem c. 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 II. verb (versed; versing) Date: before 12th century intransitive verb to make verse ; versify transitive verb 1. to tell or celebrate in verse 2. to turn into verse III. transitive verb (versed; versing) Etymology: back-formation from versed, from Latin versatus, past participle of versari to be active, be occupied (in), passive of versare to turn Date: 1599 to familiarize by close association, study, or experience <well versed in the theater>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a metrical composition in general (wrote pages of verse). b a particular type of this (English verse). 2 a a metrical line in accordance with the rules of prosody. b a group of a definite number of such lines. c a stanza of a poem or song with or without refrain. 3 each of the short numbered divisions of a chapter in the Bible or other scripture. 4 a a versicle. b a passage (of an anthem etc.) for solo voice. --v.tr. 1 express in verse. 2 (usu. refl.; foll. by in) instruct; make knowledgeable. Derivatives: verselet n. Etymology: OE fers f. L versus a turn of the plough, a furrow, a line of writing f. vertere vers- turn: in ME reinforced by OF vers f. L versus

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Verse Verse, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Versed; p. pr. & vb. n. Versing.] To tell in verse, or poetry. [Obs.] Playing on pipes of corn and versing love. --Shak.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Verse Verse, v. i. To make verses; to versify. [Obs.] It is not rhyming and versing that maketh a poet. --Sir P. Sidney.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Verse Verse, n. [OE. vers, AS. fers, L. versus a line in writing, and, in poetry, a verse, from vertere, versum, to turn, to turn round; akin to E. worth to become: cf. F. vers. See Worth to become, and cf. Advertise, Averse, Controversy, Convert, Divers, Invert, Obverse, Prose, Suzerain, Vortex.] 1. A line consisting of a certain number of metrical feet (see Foot, n., 9) disposed according to metrical rules. Note: Verses are of various kinds, as hexameter, pentameter, tetrameter, etc., according to the number of feet in each. A verse of twelve syllables is called an Alexandrine. Two or more verses form a stanza or strophe. 2. Metrical arrangement and language; that which is composed in metrical form; versification; poetry. Such prompt eloquence Flowed from their lips in prose or numerous verse. --Milton. Virtue was taught in verse. --Prior. Verse embalms virtue. --Donne. 3. A short division of any composition. Specifically: (a) A stanza; a stave; as, a hymn of four verses. Note: Although this use of verse is common, it is objectionable, because not always distinguishable from the stricter use in the sense of a line. (b) (Script.) One of the short divisions of the chapters in the Old and New Testaments. Note: The author of the division of the Old Testament into verses is not ascertained. The New Testament was divided into verses by Robert Stephens [or Estienne], a French printer. This arrangement appeared for the first time in an edition printed at Geneva, in 1551. (c) (Mus.) A portion of an anthem to be performed by a single voice to each part. 4. A piece of poetry. ``This verse be thine.'' --Pope. Blank verse, poetry in which the lines do not end in rhymes. Heroic verse. See under Heroic.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(verses) 1. Verse is writing arranged in lines which have rhythm and which often rhyme at the end. I have been moved to write a few lines of verse. = poetry N-UNCOUNT see also blank verse 2. A verse is one of the parts into which a poem, a song, or a chapter of the Bible or the Koran is divided. This verse describes three signs of spring... N-COUNT

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Line (metrically arranged), line of poetry, stich. 2. Versification, poetry, poesy, metrical composition, metrical language. 3. (Common, but improper.) Stanza, stave, staff. 4. Passage (of Scripture), text, sentence. 5. (Poetical.) Piece of poetry.

Moby Thesaurus

English sonnet, Horatian ode, Italian sonnet, Petrarchan sonnet, Pindaric ode, Sapphic ode, Shakespearean sonnet, Spenserian stanza, acquaint, adage, advertise, advertise of, advise, alba, ana, anacreontic, anacrusis, analects, antistrophe, aphorism, apothegm, apprise, article, avant-propos, axiom, back matter, balada, ballad, ballade, bass passage, book, bourdon, breakthrough, bridge, brief, bring word, bucolic, burden, byword, cadence, canso, canto, catchword, chanson, chapter, chorus, clause, clerihew, climb Parnassus, coda, collected sayings, column, communicate, compose poetry, couplet, current saying, development, dictate, dictum, dirge, disclose, distich, dithyramb, division, eclogue, elegize, elegy, enlighten, envoi, epic, epigram, epithalamium, epode, epopee, epopoeia, epos, exordium, exposition, expression, familiarize, fascicle, figure, folderol, folio, foreword, front matter, frontispiece, gathering, georgic, ghazel, give notice, give the facts, give word, gnome, golden saying, haiku, harmonic close, heptastich, hexastich, idyll, inform, innovation, installment, instruct, interlude, intermezzo, introduction, introductory phrase, jingle, lay, leap, leave word, let know, limerick, line, lisp in numbers, livraison, lyric, madrigal, make immortal verse, maxim, measure, mention to, monody, monostich, moral, mot, motto, mount Pegasus, movement, musical phrase, musical sentence, musical thought, narrative poem, notify, number, nursery rhyme, octastich, octave, octet, ode, oracle, ornament, ottava rima, overture, page, palinode, paragraph, part, passage, pastoral, pastoral elegy, pastorela, pastourelle, pentastich, period, phrase, pithy saying, poem, poesy, poetize, poetry, postulate, preamble, precept, preface, prefix, prefixture, preliminary, prelude, premise, prescript, presupposition, proem, prolegomena, prolegomenon, prolepsis, prologue, protasis, prothalamium, proverb, proverbial saying, proverbs, quatrain, refrain, report, resolution, response, rhyme, rhyme royal, ritornello, rondeau, rondel, roundel, roundelay, rune, satire, saw, saying, section, send word, sentence, sententious expression, septet, serial, serve notice, sestet, sestina, sextet, sheet, signature, sing, sing deathless songs, sloka, song, sonnet, sonnet sequence, speak, stanza, statement, stave, stock saying, strain, strophe, sutra, syllable, tailpiece, tanka, teaching, tell, tenso, tenzone, tercet, terza rima, tetrastich, text, the supreme fiction, threnody, triolet, triplet, tristich, troubadour poem, tutti, tutti passage, variation, verselet, versicle, versify, villanelle, virelay, volume, voluntary, wisdom, wisdom literature, wise saying, witticism, word, words of wisdom, write poetry