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aracterized by imagination and poetic diction; -- contradistinguished from prose; as, the poems of Homer or of Milton.

Pertaining to a poem, or to poetry; poetical. [R.] Coleridge.

A Hebrew poem in which the lines or stanzas begin with the letters of the alphabet in regular order (as Psalm cxix.). See Abecedarian. Double acrostic, a species of enigma, in which words are to be guessed whose initial and final letters form other words.

t or connected series of events, either real or imaginary, forming the subject of a play, poem, or other composition; the unfolding of the drama of events.

Regarded with wonder and delight; highly prized; as, an admired poem.

The great epic poem of Virgil, of which the hero is Æneas.

Amatory. [Obs.] "Amatorious poem." Milton.

A poem in which persons are represented at speaking alternately; as the third and seventh eclogues of Virgil.

A poem after the manner of Anacreon; a sprightly little poem in praise of love and wine.

ction of flowers of literature, that is, beautiful passages from authors; a collection of poems or epigrams; -- particularly applied to a collection of ancient Greek epigrams.

, Tertullian's Apology for Christianity. It is not my intention to make an apology for my poem; some will think it needs no excuse, and others will receive none. Dryden.

ion; theme or topic; also, an abstract or summary, as of the contents of a book, chapter, poem. You and love are still my argument. Shak. The abstract or argument of the piece. Jeffrey. [Shields] with boastful argument portrayed. Milton.

such a book to such an author. The finest [speech] that is ascribed to Satan in the whole poem. Addison.

A popular kind of narrative poem, adapted for recitation or singing; as, the ballad of Chevy Chase; esp., a sentimental or romantic poem in short stanzas.

stanzas of eight or ten lines each, the stanzas concluding with a refrain, and the whole poem with an envoy.

Ballad poems; the subject or style of ballads. "Base balladry is so beloved." Drayton.

st; as, the battle of life. The whole intellectual battle that had at its center the best poem of the best poet of that day. H. Morley.

ated. -- Like blazes, furiously; rapidly. [Low] "The horses did along like blazes tear." Poem in Essex dialect.

A pastoral poem, representing rural affairs, and the life, manners, and occupation of shepherds; as, the Bucolics of Theocritus and Virgil. Dryden.

A poem set to music; a musical composition comprising choruses, solos, interludes, etc., arranged in a somewhat dramatic manner; originally, a composition for a single noise, consisting of both recitative and melody.