Verse

Verse (vẽrs) , noun

[Old English vers, Anglo-Saxon fers, Latin versus a line in writing, and, in poetry, a verse, from vertere, versum, to turn, to turn round; akin to English worth to become: compare French vers. See Worth to become, and compare Advertise, Averse, Controversy, Convert, Divers, Invert, Obverse, Prose, Suzerain, Vortex.]

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

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.

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

A short division of any composition.

(a)

A stanza; a stave; as, a hymn of four verses.

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)

(Scripture) One of the short divisions of the chapters in the Old and New Testaments.

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)

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

A piece of poetry.

This verse be thine. — Pope

Collocations (2)

Blank verse , poetry in which the lines do not end in rhymes.

Heroic verse , See under Heroic.

Verse (vẽrst) , transitive verb

To tell in verse, or poetry. [Obsolete]

Playing on pipes of corn and versing love. — Shakespeare

Verse , intransitive verb

To make verses; to versify. [Obsolete]

It is not rhyming and versing that maketh a poet. — Sir P. Sidney