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poetic

 - 3 dictionary results

po⋅et⋅ic

[poh-et-ik]
–adjective Also, po⋅et⋅i⋅cal.
1. possessing the qualities or charm of poetry: poetic descriptions of nature.
2. of or pertaining 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 pertaining 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 pertaining to literature in verse form.
–noun
11. poetics.

Origin:
1520–30; < L poēticus < Gk poiētikós. See poet, -ic


po⋅et⋅i⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To poetic
po·et·ic   (pō-ět'ĭk)   
adj.  
  1. Of or relating to poetry: poetic works.

  2. Having a quality or style characteristic of poetry: poetic diction.

  3. Suitable as a subject for poetry: a poetic romance.

  4. Of, relating to, or befitting a poet: poetic insight.

  5. Characterized by romantic imagery: "Turner's vision of the rainbow . . . was poetic, and he knew it" (Lawrence Gowing).

n.  The theory or practice of writing poetry; poetics.

[Latin poēticus, from Greek poiētikos, inventive, from poiein, to make; see kwei-2 in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

poetic 
1530, from M.Fr. poetique, from L. poeticus, from Gk. poietikos "pertaining to poetry," lit. "creative, productive," from poietos "made," verbal adj. of poiein "to make" (see poet). Poetic justice "ideal justice as portrayed in plays and stories" is from 1679.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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