Wordsmith.org: the magic of words


A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact  


Home

Today's Word

Yesterday's Word

Archives

FAQ



Jun 11, 2013
This week's theme
Miscellaneous words

This week's words
canorous
prosaic
expansive
animadversion
sempiternal

Bookmark and Share Facebook Twitter Digg MySpace Bookmark and Share
A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

prosaic

PRONUNCIATION:
(pro-ZAY-ik)

MEANING:
adjective:
1. Dull; unimaginative.
2. Everyday; straightforward; ordinary.
3. Having the character of prose as compared to the feeling of poetry.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin prosa (prose), from prosa oratio (straightforward speech), from provertere (to turn forward). Ultimately from the Indo-European root wer- (to turn or bend), also the source of wring, weird, writhe, revert, universe, wroth, verso , conversazione, versicolor, and animadvert. Earliest documented use: 1589.

USAGE:
"On a throne ornate to the point of gaudiness, the queen reads out the legislative agenda of 'her' government, written on goatskin vellum. The content of that speech is usually more prosaic."
Britain: The Vision Thing; The Economist (London, UK); Nov 10, 2007.

See more usage examples of prosaic in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Some stories are true that never happened. -Elie Wiesel, writer, Nobel laureate (b. 1928)

We need your help

Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere

Donate

Subscriber Services
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith