poet

¹

[ poh-it ]

noun

1. a person who composes poetry.

   Synonyms: versifier, bard

2. a person who has the gift of poetic thought, imagination, and creation, together with eloquence of expression.

poet.

²

abbreviation for

1. poetic.
2. poetical.
3. poetry.

poet

/ ˈpəʊɪt /

noun

1. a person who writes poetry
2. a person with great imagination and creativity

Other Words From

• poet·less adjective
• poet·like adjective
• non·poet noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of poet¹

1250–1300; Middle English poete < Latin poēta < Greek poiētḗs poet, literally, maker, equivalent to poiē-, variant stem of poieîn to make + -tēs agent noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of poet¹

C13: from Latin poēta, from Greek poiētēs maker, poet, from poiein to make

Example Sentences

“The words have held their own,” said poet Gwyneth Lewis, who wrote the inscription.

From BBC

It was regularly frequented by writers including poet Robert Fergusson, artists and many members of the judiciary.

From BBC

‘Tongues Untied’: When the filmmaker, poet and activist Marlon Riggs died in 1994, he left behind several provocative and powerful documentary features and shorts, many of which are included in Ovid’s collection.

From New York Times

Dante is the main character, and we speak of Dante the poet and Dante the pilgrim.

From Salon

America’s poet laureate, the incandescent Ada Limón, was asked to write a poem that would be inscribed on the spacecraft.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• artist
• author
• dramatist
• lyricist
• writer