VERSE

verse, rhyme

(noun) a piece of poetry

verse, verse line

(noun) a line of metrical text

poetry, poesy, verse

(noun) literature in metrical form

verse

(verb) familiarize through thorough study or experience; “She versed herself in Roman archeology”

verse, versify, poetize, poetise

(verb) compose verses or put into verse; “He versified the ancient saga”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology 1

Noun

verse (countable and uncountable, plural verses)

A poetic form with regular meter and a fixed rhyme scheme.

Synonym: poetry

Poetic form in general.

One of several similar units of a song, consisting of several lines, generally rhymed.

Synonym: stanza

A small section of the Jewish or Christian Bible.

Holonym: chapter

(music) A portion of an anthem to be performed by a single voice to each part.

Verb

verse (third-person singular simple present verses, present participle versing, simple past and past participle versed)

(obsolete) To compose verses.

(transitive) To tell in verse, or poetry.

Etymology 2

Verb

verse (third-person singular simple present verses, present participle versing, simple past and past participle versed)

to educate about, to teach about.

Etymology 3

Verb

verse (third-person singular simple present verses, present participle versing, simple past and past participle versed)

(colloquial) To oppose, to compete against, especially in a video game.

Anagrams

• reves, serve, sever, veers

Source: Wiktionary

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Verse, n. Etym: [OE. vers, AS. fers, L. versus a line in writing, and, in poetry, a verse, from vertere, versum, to turn, to turn round; akin to E. worth to become: cf. F. vers. See Worth to become, and cf. Advertise, Averse, Controversy, Convert, Divers, Invert, Obverse, Prose, Suzerain, Vortex.]

1. A line consisting of a certain number of metrical feet (see Foot, n., 9) disposed according to metrical rules.

Note: Verses are of various kinds, as hexameter, pentameter, tetrameter, etc., according to the number of feet in each. A verse of twelve syllables is called an Alexandrine. Two or more verses form a stanza or strophe.

2. Metrical arrangement and language; that which is composed in metrical form; versification; poetry. Such prompt eloquence Flowed from their lips in prose or numerous verse. Milton. Virtue was taught in verse. Prior. Verse embalms virtue. Donne.

3. A short division of any composition. Specifically: -- (a) A stanza; a stave; as, a hymn of four verses.

Note: Although this use of verse is common, it is objectionable, because not always distinguishable from the stricter use in the sense of a line. (b) (Script.) One of the short divisions of the chapters in the Old and New Testaments.

Note: The author of the division of the Old Testament into verses is not ascertained. The New Testament was divided into verses by Robert Stephens [or Estienne], a French printer. This arrangement appeared for the first time in an edition printed at Geneva, in 1551. (c) (Mus.) A portion of an anthem to be performed by a single voice to each part.

4. A piece of poetry. "This verse be thine." Pope. Blank verse, poetry in which the lines do not end in rhymes.

– Heroic verse. See under Heroic.

Verse, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Versed; p. pr. & vb. n. Versing.]

Definition: To tell in verse, or poetry. [Obs.] Playing on pipes of corn and versing love. Shak.

Verse, v. i.

Definition: To make verses; to versify. [Obs.] It is not rhyming and versing that maketh a poet. Sir P. Sidney.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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