Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Poetess

Po′et-ess

,
Noun.
[Cf. F.
poétesse
.]
A female poet.

Webster 1828 Edition


Poetess

PO'ETESS

,
Noun.
A female poet.

Definition 2024


poetess

poetess

English

Noun

poetess (plural poetesses)

  1. (dated) a female poet

Translations

Usage notes

'Poetess' is rare in contemporary usage according to which both sexes are known normally as 'poets'. The Latin term for a female poet was poetria, derived from the Ancient Greek ποιήτρια, which still means "female poet" in Modern Greek. "Female poet" is the more usual modern translation where the gendered form in the original language is preserved.