prosody

[ pros-uh-dee ]

noun

1. the science or study of poetic meters and versification.
2. a particular or distinctive system of metrics and versification:

   Milton's prosody.

3. Linguistics. the stress and intonation patterns of an utterance.

prosody

/ prəˈsɒdɪk; ˈprɒsədɪ /

noun

1. the study of poetic metre and of the art of versification, including rhyme, stanzaic forms, and the quantity and stress of syllables
2. a system of versification
3. the patterns of stress and intonation in a language

Derived Forms

• ˈprosodist, noun
• prosodic, adjective

Other Words From

• pro·sod·ic [pr, uh, -, sod, -ik], pro·sod·i·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prosody¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin prosōdia, from Greek prosōidía “tone or accent, modulation of voice, song sung to music,” equivalent to prós “toward” + ōid(ḗ) ode + -ia -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of prosody¹

C15: from Latin prosōdia accent of a syllable, from Greek prosōidia song set to music, from pros towards + ōidē, from aoidē song; see ode

Example Sentences

He hoped to treat the subject exhaustively in his forthcoming treatise on Ecclesiastical Prosody.

From Project Gutenberg

It is common for those that deliver the grammar of modern languages, to omit the Prosody.

From Project Gutenberg

He always mentioned her as "that dear invaluable creature, Miss Prosody."

From Project Gutenberg

"Perhaps," said Lilla, frankly, with furtive enjoyment of Miss Prosody's stiffening face.

From Project Gutenberg

They had been reckoning on the phenomenon of Miss Prosody, subjugated by hunger, eating pie with her fingers.

From Project Gutenberg