Poetess

Poetess

A poetess, in the simplest sense, is a female poet.

Also, in the 1600-1700s in Ireland, the word "poetess" was used to describe a mistress of a poet or an orator. The word died around the mid to late 1700s because it was considered too promiscuous, and later considered a vulgar term.

Historical use

The word "poetess" has sometimes been used in a mildly pejorative or dismissive sense. In his "Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot", Alexander Pope wrote the lines:

:"Is there a Parson, much bemus'd in beer,":"A maudlin poetess, a rhyming Peer."


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  • poetess — is now rarely used except with historical reference, as for example to the Greek lyricist Sappho (6c bc). Occasionally it is used when the sex of the poet is in some way significant and when the noun is already qualified by an adjective, making… …   Modern English usage

  • Poetess — Po et*ess, n. [Cf. F. po[ e]tesse.] A female poet. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • poetess — [pō′ə tis] n. a woman or girl who writes poems or verses: see ESS …   English World dictionary

  • poetess — [[t]po͟ʊɪtes[/t]] poetesses N COUNT A poetess is a female poet. Most female poets prefer to be called poets …   English dictionary

  • poetess — poet ► NOUN 1) a person who writes poems. 2) a person possessing special powers of imagination or expression. DERIVATIVES poetess noun …   English terms dictionary

  • poetess — noun Date: 1530 a girl or woman who is a poet …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • poetess — /poh i tis/, n. a woman who writes poetry. [1520 30; POET + ESS] Usage. See ess. * * * …   Universalium

  • poetess — noun a female poet …   Wiktionary

  • poetess — (Roget s Thesaurus II) noun One who writes poetry: bard, muse2, poet, poetaster, rhymer, rhymester, versifier. See WORDS …   English dictionary for students

  • poetess — po|et|ess [ˌpəuıˈtes US ˈpouıtıs] n old fashioned a female poet …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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