verse

Where does the word "verse" come from? It comes from Latin versus, and was adopted directly into English (1000s).

Verse’s story begins in Latin: versus meant “a turning, a furrow.” Literally a turning, from vertere (to turn), describing a plow turning at the end of a furrow. It reached English by 1000s as verse. Settled as the English word for a line or section of poetry. Today, verse means writing arranged with a rhythmic structure, or a single line of such writing.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient versus "a turning, a furrow", literally a turning, from vertere (to turn), describing a plow turning at the end of a furrow.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1000s verse "a line or section of poetry", settled as the English word for a line or section of poetry.