poetry

Etymology

From Middle English poetrye, poetrie, a borrowing from Old French pöeterie, pöetrie, from Medieval Latin poētria, from poēta (“poet”), from Ancient Greek ποιητής (poiētḗs, “poet; author; maker”). Displaced native Old English lēoþcræft.

noun

1. Literature composed in verse or language exhibiting conscious attention to patterns and rhythm.
   More people write poetry than read it. 2004, George Carlin, When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?, New York: Hyperion Books, →OCLC, →OL, page 263
2. A poet's literary production.
3. (figurative) An artistic quality that appeals to or evokes the emotions, in any medium; something having such a quality.
   That 'Swan Lake' choreography is poetry in motion, fitting the musical poetry of Tchaikovski's divine score well beyond the literary inspiration.