poesy

American  

[poh-uh-see, -zee] / ˈpoʊ ə si, -zi /

noun

plural

poesies

1. the work or the art of poetic composition.

2. Archaic.

   1. poetry in general.

   2. verse or poetry in metrical form.

3. Obsolete.

   1. a poem or verse used as a motto.

   2. a poem.

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poesy British  

/ ˈpəʊɪzɪ /

noun

1. an archaic word for poetry

2. poetic the art of writing poetry

3. archaic a poem or verse, esp one used as a motto

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Etymology

Origin of poesy

1300–50; Middle English poesie < Middle French < Latin poēsis < Greek poíēsis poetic art, poetry, literally, a making, equivalent to poiē-, variant stem of poieîn to make + -sis -sis

Explanation

Poesy is a category of literature that includes rhythmic or rhyming verse. You might feel a little shy about your own attempts at poesy, especially if every single one of your verses starts with the line "Roses are red, violets are blue..." If you need an old-fashioned way to talk about poetry or the art of writing poems, use poesy. You can tell your English teacher you prefer poesy to prose, especially if you're partial to short, rhyming poems. Back in the 14th century, this word was a common way to refer to the craft of writing verse. It comes from the Greek root poesis, "poetry" or "a making."

Example Sentences

The White Album’s tonal and visual proximities begin with The Pure and the Damned, the music video from Oneohtrix Point Never featuring Iggy Pop’s eerie poesy, from the 2017 film Good Time.

From The Guardian • Dec. 11, 2018

Costner delivers Dutton’s threats, pleas, and cowboy poesy in a rasp.

From The New Yorker • Jun. 20, 2018

To learn grammar was to appreciate the book’s poesy, which in turn was to break open a once-inaccessible text.

From Salon • Jun. 3, 2017

The ambrosial stuff of poesy it was not, except maybe to Dilbert fans: “inviting coworkers.”

From New York Times • Mar. 19, 2011

No more of Rome, enlighten'd by her beams, Fresh kindling there the fire of eloquence, And poesy divine; imperial Rome!

From The Poems of Philip Freneau, Volume I (of III) by Freneau, Philip