versify

American  

[vur-suh-fahy] / ˈvɜr səˌfaɪ /

verb (used with object)

versified, versifying

1. to relate, describe, or treat (something) in verse.

2. to convert (prose or other writing) into metrical form.

---

verb (used without object)

versified, versifying

1. to compose verses.

versify British  

/ ˈvɜːsɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. (tr) to render (something) into metrical form or verse

2. (intr) to write in verse

---

Other Word Forms

• unversified adjective
• versifier noun

Etymology

Origin of versify

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English versifien, from Old French versifier, from Latin versificāre; verse, -ify

Example Sentences

In fact, I noted that Yarlexis may have benefited from a lack of facility with English in this case—some of those other queens were trying to versify overstuffed lines that made this English major cringe!

From Slate • Nov. 13, 2012

If history's most absorbent author needed high legal drama, he had only to versify the royal squabbles in Holinshed's Chronicles.

From Time Magazine Archive

But in the evenings, France's Secretary for Foreign Affairs continued to versify.

From Time Magazine Archive

And yet he, though he forbids us to versify in prose, recommends the use of numbers.

From Cicero's Brutus or History of Famous Orators; also His Orator, or Accomplished Speaker. by Jones, E.

But everybody else had realised that the trio was struggling for mastery, so without attempting to versify they kept their gaze fixed on them and gave way to laughter.

From Hung Lou Meng, Book II Or, the Dream of the Red Chamber, a Chinese Novel in Two Books by Joly, H. Bencraft