Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Poetic.
- adjective Fancifully depicted or embellished; idealized.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Same as
poetic .
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective of or pertaining to
poetry , suitable for poetry, or for writing poetry. - adjective expressed in metrical form; exhibiting the imaginative or the rhythmical quality of poetry.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective characteristic of or befitting poetry
- adjective of or relating to poetry
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word poetical.
Examples
-
But in striking contrast to Shakespere and to others, Middleton has no kind of poetical morality in the sense in which the term poetical justice is better known.
-
But the term poetical does not appear very applicable to the generality of Dutch painting; and a little reflection will show us, that if the Italians represent only the invariable, they cannot be properly compared even to historians.
-
"Never mind; we can make believe that the queen has sent them off, so as not to scare Pocahontas; that's what they call poetical license," said Polly.
-
But I can't help seeing there's a kind of -- what they call poetical justice in it, the blow coming from him.
-
"No! take it easy," said Robinson; "he is a poet; this is what they call poetical license."
-
We are indeed so much used to what they call poetical justice, that we are disappointed in the catastrophe of a fable, if everybody concerned in it be not disposed of according to the sentence of that judge which we have set up in our own breasts.
-
Poets have formed what they call a poetical system of things, which though it be believed neither by themselves nor readers, is commonly esteemed a sufficient foundation for any fiction.
-
Poets have formed what they call a poetical system of things, which though it be believed neither by themselves nor readers, is commonly esteemed a sufficient foundation for any fiction.
-
Poets have form'd what they call a poetical system of things, which tho 'it be believ'd neither by themselves nor readers, is commonly esteem'd a sufficient foundation for any fiction.
-
Among the moderns, indeed, there has arisen a chimerical method of disposing the fortune of the persons represented, according to what they call poetical justice; and letting none be unhappy but those who deserve it.
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.