poesy

See also: poësy

English

Alternative forms

• poesie, poësy

Etymology

From Middle English poesie, from Middle French poesie, from Late Latin poesia, from earlier poēsis, from Ancient Greek ποίησις (poíēsis). Doublet of poiesis.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpəʊɪzi/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈpoʊɪzi/

Noun

poesy (countable and uncountable, plural poesies)

1. A poem. [from 14th c.]
2. The art or composition of poetry.
3. (archaic) The class of literature comprising poems. [from 14th c.]

   Synonyms: poetry, verse

   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 10, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:

     I know not well how to excuse him, in that hee deemed his Poesie worthy to be published.

   • 1836, “Boz” [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], Sketches by “Boz,” Illustrative of Every-day Life, and Every-day People. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Macrone, […], →OCLC:

     We know a poetical young gentleman—a very poetical young gentleman. We do not mean to say that he is troubled with the gift of poesy in any remarkable degree, but his countenance is of a plaintive and melancholy cast, his manner is abstracted and bespeaks affliction of soul: […]

Derived terms

• posy

Verb

poesy (third-person singular simple present poesies, present participle poesying, simple past and past participle poesied)

1. (intransitive, archaic) To write or perform poetry.

Anagrams

• Posey, posey, poyse, sepoy