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Where does the word "poetry" come from? It comes from Greek poiētria, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "poetry" come from? It comes from Greek poiētria, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Poetry’s story begins in Greek: poiētria meant “poetess.” Greek 'poiētēs', maker, the root of 'poet'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as poeterie. Came via Medieval Latin 'poetria'. It reached English by 1300s as poetry. 'poetic justice' dates from the 1600s. Today, poetry means literary work in verse.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient poiētria "poetess", Greek 'poiētēs', maker, the root of 'poet'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval poeterie "poetry", came via Medieval Latin 'poetria'.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s poetry "poetry", 'poetic justice' dates from the 1600s.