poetic

[poh-et-ik]

adjective

1. possessing the qualities or charm of poetry.

   poetic descriptions of nature.

2. of or relating to a poet or poets.

3. characteristic of or befitting a poet.

   poetic feeling; poetic insight.

4. endowed with the faculty or feeling of a poet.

   a poetic eulogist.

5. having or showing the sensibility of a poet.

   a poetic lover.

6. of or relating to poetry.

   poetic literature.

7. of the nature of or resembling poetry.

   a poetic composition; poetic drama; poetic imagination.

8. celebrated in poetry, as a place.

9. providing a subject for poetry.

10. of or relating to literature in verse form.

noun

1. poetics.

poetic

/ pəʊˈɛtɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to poetry

2. characteristic of poetry, as in being elevated, sublime, etc

3. characteristic of a poet

4. recounted in verse

Other Word Forms

• poetically adverb
• antipoetical adjective
• antipoetically adverb
• nonpoetic adjective
• prepoetic adjective
• prepoetical adjective
• pseudopoetic adjective
• pseudopoetical adjective
• quasi-poetic adjective
• quasi-poetical adjective
• quasi-poetically adverb
• unpoetic adjective
• unpoetical adjective
• unpoetically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of poetic¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin poēticus, from Greek poiētikós; equivalent to poet + -ic

Example Sentences

And there’s a sort of incandescent poetic beauty to all that, and there’s just the sorrow to it because you also realize it’s the last of that moment.

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This second meaning we owe to the poetic license of Mr. Samuel Taylor Coleridge, whose famous poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner contained just such a creature.

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The games were meant to show the various types of poetic meter: iambic pentameter, for example, which William Shakespeare used to marvelous effect in many of his poems and plays.

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“Will do,” it read in his own dear, sweet, familiar cursive, with its poetic loops and flourishes.

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On the other hand, perhaps Mr. Burns was using his poetic license.

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