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prosa

prose

noun PROH-zah Rare
Arts & Culture Literature

Origin: From Latin prosa oratio (straightforward speech).

Usage Note

Prosa refers to non-metrical written or spoken language, as opposed to poesia (poetry). In theatre, il teatro in prosa means spoken drama (as opposed to opera or musical theatre). A prosatore is a prose writer. The adjective prosaico can also mean mundane or unromantic in everyday Italian — 'una risposta prosaica' is a flat, unimaginative reply.

Examples

"Preferisce la prosa alla poesia."

Natural Translation

She prefers prose to poetry.

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