English edit

Etymology edit

From poet +‎ -ess. Compare Middle English poetresse (poetess).

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

poetess (plural poetesses)

  1. (dated) A female poet.
    • 1830, Alfred Tennyson, “Leonine Elegiacs”, in Juvenilia:
      The ancient poetess singeth, that Hesperus all things bringeth, / Smoothing the wearied mind: bring me my love, Rosalind.

Usage notes edit

Poetess is rare in contemporary usage according to which both sexes are known normally as poets. The Latin term for a female poet was poētria, derived from the Ancient Greek ποιήτρια (poiḗtria), 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.

Synonyms edit

Translations edit

Further reading edit