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Poetry

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means literary work in verse

Where does the word "poetry" come from? It comes from Greek poiētria, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

poiētria→poeterie→poetry

Greek · ancient

Greek 'poiētēs', maker, the root of 'poet'

Old French · medieval

came via Medieval Latin 'poetria'

English · 1300s

'poetic justice' dates from the 1600s

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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.