prose

Where does the word "prose" come from? It comes from Latin prorsus, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Prose’s story begins in Latin: prorsus meant “straightforward, direct.” Literally turned forward, straightforward, describing plain speech without poetic structure. It reached English by 1300s as prose. Settled as the English word for ordinary written or spoken language. Today, prose means written or spoken language in its ordinary form, without a formal poetic structure.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient prorsus "straightforward, direct", literally turned forward, straightforward, describing plain speech without poetic structure.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s prose "ordinary written or spoken language, without poetic structure", settled as the English word for ordinary written or spoken language.