poetic

[ poh-et-ik ]

/ poʊˈɛt ɪk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR poetic ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective Also po·et·i·cal.

possessing the qualities or charm of poetry: poetic descriptions of nature.

of or relating to a poet or poets.

characteristic of or befitting a poet: poetic feeling; poetic insight.

endowed with the faculty or feeling of a poet: a poetic eulogist.

having or showing the sensibility of a poet: a poetic lover.

of or relating to poetry: poetic literature.

of the nature of or resembling poetry: a poetic composition; poetic drama; poetic imagination.

celebrated in poetry, as a place.

providing a subject for poetry.

of or relating to literature in verse form.

noun

poetics.

Nearby words

Origin of poetic

1520–30; < Latin poēticus < Greek poiētikós. See poet, -ic

Related forms

po·et·i·cal·ly, adverban·ti·po·et·i·cal, adjectivean·ti·po·et·i·cal·ly, adverbnon·po·et·ic, adjective

pre·po·et·ic, adjectivepre·po·et·i·cal, adjectivepseu·do·po·et·ic, adjectivepseu·do·po·et·i·cal, adjectivequa·si-po·et·ic, adjectivequa·si-po·et·i·cal, adjectivequa·si-po·et·i·cal·ly, adverbun·po·et·ic, adjectiveun·po·et·i·cal, adjectiveun·po·et·i·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for poetical

The paper was written on the topic, "Milton's Poetical Achievement."
My Eulogy for My Father, Murray Frum|David Frum|May 31, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Classical allusions, poetical turns of phrase, antique diction, recondite words.
David's Book Club: The Souls of Black Folk|David Frum|May 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
No beauties, poetical or musical, have been passed down to us from any actual man called Orpheus.
Ann Wroe’s ‘Orpheus’: Why the Mythological Muse Haunts Us|Ann Wroe|May 31, 2012|DAILY BEAST
His words were purposeful, almost business-like, with the tautest of poetical flourishes.
9/11 in Reverse|Tina Brown|January 20, 2009|DAILY BEAST

The etchings on the plates to The Poetical Magazine were worked fairly away and renewed.
Rowlandson the Caricaturist. First Volume|Joseph Grego
Now we must understand "fifty wykes" to be a poetical expression for a year.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 5 (of 7) -- Notes to the Canterbury Tales|Geoffrey Chaucer
For poetical charm the first place is to be assigned to the Egyptian, Hebrew, and Hindu hymns.
Introduction to the History of Religions|Crawford Howell Toy
He was young, unmarried and a poet; and this certainly was not a poetical incident.
Flora Lyndsay|Susan Moodie
Mrs. Howarth possesses the poetical talent of the Irish race.
The Continental Monthly, Vol. 5, No. 5, May, 1864|Various

British Dictionary definitions for poetical

poetic

poetical

/ (pəʊˈɛtɪk) /

adjective

of or relating to poetry

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

characteristic of a poet

recounted in verse

Derived Formspoetically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for poetical

poetic

adj.

1520s, from poet + -ic, or else from or influenced by Middle French poetique (c.1400), from Latin poeticus, from Greek poietikos "pertaining to poetry," literally "creative, productive," from poietos "made," verbal adjective of poiein "to make" (see poet). Related: Poetics (1727). Poetic justice "ideal justice as portrayed in plays and stories" is from 1670s. Poetic license attested by 1733.

Earlier adjective was poetical (late 14c.); also obsolete poetly (mid-15c.). Related: Poetically (early 15c.).

poetic

adjective Also po·et·i·cal.

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of poetic

Examples from the Web for poetical

British Dictionary definitions for poetical

poetic

poetical

adjective

Word Origin and History for poetical

poetic