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date: 15 March 2025

Prose [From Latin prosus direct or straightforward. Prosa oratio was the Latin equivalent of Greek pezós lógos speech that goes on foot, as opposed to émmetros lógos [‘measured speech’] or verse, whose high prestige was reflected in the image of riding on horseback]. 

Source:
The Oxford Companion to the English Language
Author(s):
Tom McArthurTom McArthur, Jacqueline Lam-McArthurJacqueline Lam-McArthur, Lise FontaineLise Fontaine

A form of written discourse based on the sentence and without the stylized patterning of verse. A negative perception of prose, which has persisted from classical times virtually to the present day, sees it as a medium that lacks strong features and creative vigour: whence the use of ... ...

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