poem
pronunciation
How to pronounce poem in British English:
UK [ˈpəʊɪm]
How to pronounce poem in American English:
US [ˈpoʊəm]
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- Noun:
- a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines
Word Origin
- poem
- poem: [16] A poem is etymologically ‘something created’. The word comes via Old French poeme and Latin poēma from Greek póēma, a derivative of poeín ‘make, create’. The original sense ‘something created’ developed metaphorically via ‘literary work’ to ‘poem’. From the same Greek verb was derived poētés ‘maker’, hence ‘poet’, which produced Latin poēta and in due course English poet [13] (the Old English word for ‘poet’ had been scop, a relative of modern English scoff). Poetry [14] originated as a medieval Latin derivative of poēta. Poesy ‘poetry, poems’ [14], like poem originally a derivative Greek poeín, now has an archaic air, but it has a living descendant in posy [16], which started life as a contraction of poesy.=> poesy, poet, poetry, posy
- poem (n.)
- 1540s (replacing poesy in this sense), from Middle French poème (14c.), from Latin poema "composition in verse, poetry," from Greek poema "fiction, poetical work," literally "thing made or created," early variant of poiema, from poein, poiein, "to make or compose" (see poet). Spelling pome, representing an ignorant pronunciation, is attested from 1856.
Example
- 1. Does the poem make you think of spring ?
- 2. Eg. a great poem is a fountain forever overflowing with the waters of wisdom and delight .
- 3. Would you like to hear my poem ?
- 4. I wrote this poem for you today .
- 5. Could you write a poem about this photo ?